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Team Ontario will represent Special Olympics Ontario at the 2026 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games. The Team Ontario Program is designed to provide athletes, coaches and mission staff with a welcoming team environment built on a foundation of Excellence, Empowerment, Respect, Growth, and Community. It will require dedication to training, healthy living, and accountability to its team members. Through their effort and actions, the Team will be ambassadors for Ontario and a source of pride for grassroots programs and communities. 

Team Ontario's Foundation:

  • Excellence: Team ON will strive to maximize performance. This will be achieved through effort, commitment, and a strong work ethic.
  • Empowerment: Our athletes and volunteers will be empowered to inspire and lead Team ON.
  • Respect: Team ON will ensure a supportive environment where everyone is valued and treated with dignity.
  • Growth: Team ON will have a growth mindset. Success for our Team will be improvement, not perfection.
  • Community: Team ON will create impactful legacies by building solid and collaborative connections with our team members and with our grassroots communities that support them.

Team ON Timeline & Selection

Special Olympics Ontario will select Team Ontario from athletes, coaches and volunteers participating in the 2024 Special Olympics Ontario Spring Games and 2025 Summer Games. Selection will be based on athletic performance and behaviour during the Spring and Summer Games. 

To lead this Team, Special Olympics Ontario made the significant and exciting decision to entrust a volunteer with the crucial role of Chef de Mission for Team Ontario. Duane Carson was selected as Chef and will be leading a groundbreaking Team Ontario.    

Some coach and mission staff selections will take place in the Spring of 2025, while the remainder of the Team, including all athletes, will be selected in August 2025, following the 2025 Summer Games, hosted in Brantford.  

Key Dates

  • April 2025: Applications open for mission staff head coaches and one (1) associate coach position (optional) for Athletics, Bocce, Bowling - Tenpin, Golf, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Powerlifting & Swimming 
  • April: Assistant Chef announced. 
  • June: Head Coaches and some mission staff positions announced. 
  • August 2025: Selection of athletes (see below), remaining mission staff, associate coaches, and team sport coaches. 
  • October 2025-August 2026: Training and preparation 
  • November 7-19, 2025: Team ON Training Camp #1 (50% of team, sports TBC). 
  • November 14-16, 2025: Team ON Training Camp #2 (50% of team, sports TBC). 
  • August 10-16, 2026: Special Olympics Canada Summer Games - Medicine Hat, Alberta. 
Athlete Identification for Competition Selection Policy