Q: What is the meaning/significance of the Special Olympics logo?

A: The logo is a symbol of growth, confidence and joy among children and adults with disabilities who are learning coordination, mastering skills, participating in competitions and preparing themselves for richer, more productive lives. The spherical appearance of the logo is a representation of Special Olympics' global outreach. The official logo is a visual representation of the theme: "Special Olympics - Uniting the World through skill, courage, sharing and joy."

The logo has five people who each have six arms, which also have significance:

• The "down" position means "downtrodden," remembering a time when many people thought we were not able to make good decisions or try new things.
• The straight arms mean "equal": We are the same in many ways.
• The raised arms represent "joy" and realizing our ultimate goal.
• The five people represent the five continents involved in Special Olympics at the time the logo was made.
• The people are placed in a circle to represent the world.