Special Olympics bowling is one of the fastest growing sports. When it was first included at the 1987 Special Olympics World Summer Games, bowling was dominated by American athletes and hosted only 33 competitors. At the 1995 World Games, just eight years later, bowling boasted 454 athletes from 23 countries! Special Olympics offers bowling in every US program and in over 20 countries around the globe. 

Many athletes choose bowling because it is a sport people enjoy for leisure as well as competition. Although there are some modifications made for athletes with physical disabilities, most athletes compete under the same rules and circumstances as athletes on a professional tour. As in all Special Olympics sports, bowling teams are grouped in competition divisions according to the athletes' ability level, age and gender. 

Special Olympics bowling also includes a Unified Sports® division. In this competition athletes with and without mental retardation compete on the same team. Their score is averaged, and the best averaged score wins. Special Olympics conducts an annual National Unified Sports® Bowling Championship in conjunction with the opening of the American Bowling Congress Tournament. 

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