Sport for people with intellectual disability

Sport for people with intellectual disability in NSW and the ACT operates across three broad levels: community sport, competitive pathways, and the elite international pathway. Each serves a different purpose, and knowing which level suits you or your family member helps narrow down where to start.

Community sport is where most people begin. Local clubs run weekly All Abilities programmes across almost every sport, from tenpin bowling and touch football to netball, futsal, and swimming. Sport Inclusion NSW & ACT works with a network of delivery partners including Sports 4 All to run community-level competitions and training sessions. Special Olympics NSW runs local clubs across sixteen regions of the state, offering multi-sport participation with a strong social focus.

The competitive pathway operates through state-level championships. NSW Inclusion State Championships in tenpin bowling, futsal, and other sports run annually and feed athletes into national competitions. Sport Inclusion NSW & ACT supports athletes with intellectual disability navigating eligibility, classification, and selection into representative teams.

At the top of the pathway sits Sport Inclusion Australia, the national body coordinating Australian representation at the Virtus Global Games and other international events for athletes with intellectual impairment. Elite athletes selected for Australian teams typically progress through the state-level pathway before reaching international selection.

Beyond these pathways, sport for people with intellectual disability serves broader goals. Regular sport participation contributes to physical health, social connection, and community belonging. Even athletes who never compete at state level benefit enormously from weekly training and match play at community level.

The programme directory below lists every organisation and club we know of that runs inclusive programmes across NSW and the ACT. Filter by sport, region, or age to find what works for you.