Canadian Special Olympics Mission Statement:

The mission statement of the Canadian Special Olympics (CSO) is to ensure that a full continuum of sport opportunities is available to persons with a mental handicap.

Principles to Support the Mission Statement:

Special Olympics is a sport program. Sport involves the matching of strength, endurance, and physical skill in a formalized setting with structured rules and determined outcomes. Sport includes a full continuum of opportunities, from grass roots development to high level competition.

CSO provides sport opportunities directly for athletes with a mental handicap. CSO also links these athletes with other organizations providing appropriate sport opportunities.

Special Olympics may contain elements of play, recreation or physical education, and should also assist athletes in participating meaningfully and successfully in all dimensions of a physically active lifestyle.
The practice of grouping athletes for competition based on their abilities is functional and critical to the Special Olympics program. This practice, termed divisioning, ensures that all athletes experience equitable competition (i.e., divisions shall be even.)

Special Olympics uses the medium of sport to assist persons with a mental handicap to become all they can be - physically, mentally, socially, emotionally - and to become accepted, respected, and productive members of society.
Training and preparation are essential  to meaningful participation in sport and are an indispensable element of any Special Olympics program.
The athlete is all important in Special Olympics. It is critical that coaches, parents, and caregivers encourage and provide Special Olympics Athletes with opportunities to reach their highest level of athletic achievement.
Special Olympics rewards dedication, preparation, effort and spirit (i.e. "doing your best", both in training and competition). Success is measured by the effect of the experience that the athlete receives.