About
Special Games is a student-run, non-profit organization serving individuals with physical and special needs. Established in 1977 on the Loyola Marymount University campus, Special Games began as the LMU Special Olympics of 1978 sanctioned by California Special Olympics. When the games were finished the students of Loyola Marymount decided to build their own program, known today as Special Games. LMU is the first and only university to create, sponsor, and produce a community project of this magnitude.
Special Games was founded as a day of celebration for the mentally and physically challenged of the Los Angeles community. A team of very dedicated LMU students is responsible for organizing and planning each year’s event. Special Games has witnessed a great amount of growth over three decades and annually we involve over thirty team leaders, hundreds of student coaches, over four hundred athletes, and countless volunteers. We are funded exclusively by donations and are presently celebrating our 31st year in existence, spreading joy and love for over a quarter of a century.
The mission of Special Games is to bring together the special needs community of Los Angeles and the Loyola Marymount University community for a day of fun, friendship, and personal growth. There is no experience like Special Games and no other event celebrates the many gifts of the special needs community in quite the same way. Today we continue our goal of fostering love, creating new friendships, and making life-long memories.