The Special Olympics New Jersey Sports Complex is a state-of-the-art facility that provides athletes, their families, and the greater community with access to a variety of programs, services, and events that support physical fitness, personal growth, and inclusivity. Located in a welcoming and supportive environment, this one-of-a-kind complex stands as a testament to the power of sports and the Special Olympics movement, bringing people together through shared experiences and opportunities for achievement.
Explore Our Event Calendar
The Sports Complex offers a dynamic range of activities and events throughout the year. From sports tournaments and league play to educational conferences and family workshops, the complex is a hub of excitement and engagement. Check the event calendar to stay up to date on everything happening at the facility and join us in celebrating the joy of sport and community.
Eunice Kennedy Shriver Sports & Training Center
Named after Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the founder of the Special Olympics, the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Sports & Training Center serves as a central location for various conferences, seminars, and meetings focused on advancing the mission of Special Olympics New Jersey. Mrs. Shriver, who had a deep connection with New Jersey, visited the state several times over the years, with her final visit in 2007 for the dedication of this center. It stands as a tribute to her tireless efforts in advocating for individuals with intellectual disabilities and creating a world where everyone can experience the transformative power of sports.
Wawa Exercise & Wellness Center
The Wawa Exercise & Wellness Center is the official training facility for Special Olympics New Jersey athletes, offering a fully equipped gym with the latest cardio and fitness equipment. It is designed to support the physical health and fitness of athletes, helping them train in a safe and encouraging environment. What makes this center unique is its Unified training model, where athletes can train alongside a friend, sibling, or parent, fostering inclusivity and community in every workout session.
The center is staffed with certified trainers and fitness professionals, ensuring that athletes receive the best support possible in their fitness journeys. Eligible athletes are encouraged to train three times a week, and the center is open during the following hours:
- Monday to Wednesday: 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
- Thursday: 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
- Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Note: The Wawa Exercise & Wellness Center will be closed from November 27 to November 30, and will reopen on December 2. The center will also be closed December 18, as well as from December 23 to January 4 for the holidays.
TD Sports Field
The TD Sports Field is a regulation 5v5 turf soccer field designed specifically for use by Special Olympics programs. This one-of-a-kind playing field hosts a variety of events, including tournaments, league play, and individual skills training. During the summer, it is extensively used for Camp Shriver, a sports camp for children with intellectual disabilities, as well as the Unified Sports® program, which pairs athletes with and without intellectual disabilities to compete together. The TD Sports Field serves as a symbol of inclusion, where athletes of all abilities can come together to enjoy the game of soccer.
RWJBarnabas Health Sports Court
The RWJBarnabas Health Sports Court is a newly renovated multi-purpose court dedicated to the training and development of athletes in a variety of sports. Opened in 2021, this court features a full-size outdoor basketball court and three pickleball courts. The Sports Court provides a versatile space for athletes to hone their skills in basketball, pickleball, and more. This area also plays a key role in supporting Camp Shriver campers during the summer months, ensuring they have access to the resources they need to excel in a variety of activities.
The Walsh Education & Family Center
The Walsh Education & Family Center, also known as the Walsh Library, offers a quiet and accessible space for athletes and their families to learn, connect, and grow. The center provides computer and internet access, lounge areas, and meeting spaces, allowing families to come together in a comfortable setting. Throughout the year, the center hosts a variety of conferences and workshops on topics ranging from legal issues and health and wellness to sport-specific training. These events are offered free of charge to athletes and their families, ensuring that the complex is not just a place for physical activity, but a space for learning and personal growth as well.
Champions Patio & Law Enforcement Tribute Walk
The Champions Patio & Law Enforcement Tribute Walk is a serene and beautiful outdoor area that pays tribute to the athletes, families, volunteers, and sponsors who have contributed to the success of Special Olympics New Jersey. The patio is named in honor of Sean Nelligan, a dedicated supporter of Special Olympics, and it includes the Law Enforcement Tribute Walk, which acknowledges the crucial role that law enforcement plays in supporting the Law Enforcement Torch Run and other Special Olympics events. This outdoor space serves as a venue for Camp Shriver, special events, luncheons, and competitions, making it a central gathering place for athletes and supporters.
Sargent Shriver Gymnasium
The Sargent Shriver Gymnasium is named in honor of Sargent Shriver, the husband of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, who was instrumental in expanding the Special Olympics movement globally. Dedicated to his legacy, the gymnasium provides a dedicated space for basketball and volleyball training and competition. It also hosts Camp Shriver and Young Athletes community programs, serving as an essential venue for athletes to develop their skills and foster friendships in a supportive environment.
A Community-Oriented Sports Complex
The Special Olympics New Jersey Sports Complex is more than just a place to train; it is a community hub where athletes, families, and supporters come together to experience the power of sport and inclusion. Whether it’s through training, competition, or educational opportunities, the complex provides a range of services designed to enhance the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities and promote a more inclusive society. From the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Sports & Training Center to the Wawa Exercise & Wellness Center and beyond, every aspect of this facility reflects the mission of Special Olympics New Jersey: to create a world where every athlete is valued, respected, and celebrated.
The Special Olympics New Jersey Sports Complex is a one-of-a-kind facility that gives registered athletes, their families, and the community a place to come together to experience an array of programs and services that we have to offer.
Explore our event calendar to see what’s happening at the Sports Complex.
Eunice Kennedy Shriver Sports & Training Center
The Eunice Kennedy Shriver Sports & Training Center hosts a variety of conferences, seminars and meetings. This portion of the Sports Complex was named after Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the founder of Special Olympics. Mrs. Shriver had many memorable visits to New Jersey over the years, with her last in 2007 when she attended the dedication of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Sports & Training Center.
Wawa Exercise & Wellness Center
The Wawa Exercise & Wellness Center is the official training center for Special Olympics New Jersey athletes. Eligible athletes are encouraged to train three times a week in a Unified environment by including a friend, sibling, or parent as a training partner. The center is fully equipped with the latest cardio and fitness machines and is staffed by certified trainers and fitness professionals.
HOURS*
Monday: 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Tuesday: 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Thursday: 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
*The Wawa Exercise and Wellness Center will be closed starting November 27 through November 30. It will re-open on December 2. Closed December 18, as well as December 23 through January 4 for the holidays.
Must be at least 16 years old to train independently, athletes ages 9-15 must be accompanied by adult supervision. Athletes must have a current medical on file in order to participate
Questions?? Please contact INFO@sonj.org.
TD Sports Field
The TD Sports Field is a regulation 5v5 turf soccer field that is the first of its kind to be used exclusively for Special Olympics programs. This playing field hosts numerous events, including tournament and league play, along with individual skills and team training. It is also used extensively during the summer for Camp Shriver and for the Special Olympics New Jersey Unified Sports® program.
RWJBarnabas Health Sports Court
The RWJBarnabas Health Sports Court consists of a full-size outdoor basketball court and three pickleball courts. Dedicated in 2021, this newly renovated multi-purpose court allows athletes to train and hone their individual or team skills and will play an important role in providing activities for campers attending Camp Shriver in the summer.
The Walsh Education & Family Center
This Center, also known as the Walsh Library, provides computer and internet access, lounge areas, and meeting space for athletes and their families. Throughout the year, conferences covering legal issues, health and wellness topics, sport-specific training, and other areas of interest are held here free of charge for athletes and their families.
Champions Patio & Law Enforcement Tribute Walk
Dedicated as a living tribute to Sean Nelligan, this area of the Sports Complex is a magnificent tribute to the athletes, families, volunteers, and sponsors who have contributed to the success of Special Olympics New Jersey. The support of the Law Enforcement Torch Run community is recognized with the Law Enforcement Tribute Walk. The patio plays host to Camp Shriver, luncheons, special events, and competitions.
Sargent Shriver Gymnasium
Sargent Shriver, the husband of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, has been recognized as one of the greatest Americans of our time and was instrumental in the global expansion of the Special Olympics movement in the 1980s and 1990s. To honor his contributions, Special Olympics New Jersey dedicated and named the gymnasium after him. The gymnasium provides a space for training and competition for basketball and volleyball as well as Camp Shriver and Young Athletes community programs.
Eunice Kennedy Shriver: A Visionary for Inclusion and the Founder of Special Olympics
Eunice Kennedy Shriver (1921–2009) was an American social activist and philanthropist, best known for founding Special Olympics, an international organization that provides year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Her groundbreaking work has had a lasting impact on millions of individuals worldwide, helping to change societal perceptions of people with disabilities and providing them with opportunities to achieve personal greatness.
Early Life and Background
Born on July 10, 1921, in Brookline, Massachusetts, Eunice was the fifth of nine children in the Kennedy family, one of America’s most prominent political families. She was the sister of John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States, and Robert F. Kennedy, a U.S. Senator and presidential candidate. While her family was deeply involved in politics, Eunice’s life would take a different direction, one focused on social justice, inclusion, and advocating for those who had been marginalized by society.
Eunice’s passion for helping others was influenced in part by her sister Rosemary Kennedy, who had an intellectual disability. Eunice grew up witnessing the challenges her sister faced, and it profoundly shaped her understanding of the barriers faced by people with disabilities. Despite the Kennedy family’s wealth and social status, Rosemary was often subjected to societal stigma and exclusion, prompting Eunice to become a lifelong advocate for people with intellectual disabilities.
The Birth of Special Olympics
In the early 1960s, Eunice Kennedy Shriver recognized the lack of opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities to engage in physical activity and sports. She believed in the transformative power of sport, both for physical health and for building self-esteem and confidence. In 1962, she began hosting athletic competitions for children with intellectual disabilities at her home in Maryland. These early gatherings sparked an idea — one that would change the world for people with disabilities: the Special Olympics.
In 1968, Eunice founded the first Special Olympics International Games in Chicago, where 1,000 athletes from the United States and Canada competed. This event laid the foundation for what would become an international movement, giving individuals with intellectual disabilities a chance to showcase their abilities and break down societal barriers.
Eunice’s vision was simple yet revolutionary: to provide individuals with intellectual disabilities the same opportunities to participate in sports and competition as anyone else, fostering respect, inclusion, and acceptance. The Special Olympics also aimed to promote understanding and compassion between people with and without disabilities, uniting them through sport.
Expansion and Global Impact
Under Eunice’s leadership, Special Olympics expanded rapidly, growing from a small event in Chicago to an international movement. Today, Special Olympics operates in over 190 countries, serving millions of athletes and offering sports programs in areas ranging from track and field to swimming, basketball, and soccer. The organization not only provides opportunities for athletic achievement but also advocates for equal rights, dignity, and inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities.
The organization has also emphasized the importance of Unified Sports, a program that pairs individuals with and without intellectual disabilities on the same teams to foster mutual respect and understanding. Eunice’s commitment to inclusion, fairness, and empowerment made Special Olympics a powerful force for social change, and it remains one of her greatest legacies.
Eunice Kennedy Shriver’s Legacy
Eunice Kennedy Shriver’s efforts extended far beyond the creation of Special Olympics. She was also instrumental in the founding of The Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation, which worked to improve the lives of people with disabilities. She helped establish The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and was a vocal advocate for disability rights, playing a key role in pushing for the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990.
In recognition of her contributions, Eunice received numerous honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009, shortly before her passing, and the Congressional Gold Medal in 1984. She also received the Henry B. Betts Award, the Jean and Steve Case Foundation Award, and countless others, all celebrating her dedication to improving the lives of individuals with disabilities.
Her efforts to create a more inclusive world through sports, education, and advocacy helped to change public attitudes and provide people with intellectual disabilities the chance to lead fuller, more active lives. Eunice’s vision inspired not just a movement, but a transformation in the way people think about disability and inclusion.
The Eunice Kennedy Shriver Sports & Training Center
In 2007, Special Olympics New Jersey honored Eunice’s legacy by dedicating the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Sports & Training Center, located in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. This facility is the flagship training center for Special Olympics athletes in New Jersey and serves as a space for sport, education, and community-building. The center hosts a variety of events, conferences, and programs designed to support athletes with intellectual disabilities and their families, and it continues to embody Eunice’s vision of providing opportunities for people of all abilities to participate and excel in sport.
The Lasting Impact of Eunice Kennedy Shriver
Eunice Kennedy Shriver’s legacy is as enduring as the mission of Special Olympics itself: to foster a world of inclusion, respect, and opportunity for people with intellectual disabilities. Through her vision and tireless dedication, Eunice not only created a movement that continues to grow but also changed the lives of millions around the world. Her work stands as a reminder that sports can be a powerful tool for social change, helping to break down barriers and bring people together. As long as Special Olympics continues to thrive, Eunice Kennedy Shriver’s legacy of empowerment and inclusion will live on.
