Special Olympics Australia National Games celebrate inclusion and achievement through sport
The 2026 Special Olympics Australia National Games brought athletes from across the country together in Melbourne from 19–23 October, celebrating sporting achievement, friendship and inclusion.
Held every four years, the Games provide a national stage for athletes with intellectual disability and/or autism to represent their state or territory, demonstrate their skills and connect through sport.
This year’s program featured 13 sports, including tenpin bowling, athletics, swimming, basketball, bocce and netball, with DanceSport included as a demonstration sport.
For participants, the Games offer more than the opportunity to compete. They create space to build confidence, form friendships and have years of training and dedication recognised.
Among those representing the ACT was tenpin bowler Charlotte Bailey. Speaking to ABC Sport, Charlotte described how she began bowling for enjoyment before developing her skills and progressing into competition.
She also highlighted the role national events play in changing perceptions of people with disability.
“They see our skills. They see our hard work. They see our determination,” she told ABC Sport.
Charlotte’s experience reinforces the importance of support from coaches, families, employers and sporting communities in helping people pursue their goals.
As a member of ASAPD, Special Olympics Australia creates opportunities for people with intellectual disability and/or autism to participate, compete and belong through sport. The National Games showcased the value of these opportunities and the community that makes them possible.
ASAPD congratulates all athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers and supporters involved in the 2026 National Games.
