What is Abilympics and who can take part?
Abilympics is an international skills competition, where professionals with special needs compete in tasks requiring skills in their respective professions.
Abilympics helps raise awareness of the right of professionals in need of special support to find employment and showcases the competence they have to offer to meet the needs of the world of work.
Who Can Participate
International Abilympics is a skills competition for professionals in need of special support. To be eligible, all Abilympics competitors must have a disability (mental or physical) to participate. This can mean any developmental, cognitive, psychological, physical, and/or sensory challenge that can affect an individual’s ability to function and interact in daily life. Competitors must be able to prove their need for special support in the registration by submitting a medical certificate.
Competitors must be at least 15 years old or have completed compulsory schooling. All countries participating in the Abilympics must be members of the IAF. If a country wishes to take part in the Abilympics 2027 competition, it must apply for IAF membership.
Each country or region is invited to send one delegation, with up to two competitors per skill. For skills with more than 20 total participants, the number of competitors per delegation may be limited.
How to Participate
Registration opens in September 2026 and closes in November 2026. IAF members will receive detailed instructions before registration begins.
As in previous Abilympics, participants in IA2027 can apply for a reduced registration fee. The aid program is scheduled to run from March to May 2026, and applications must be submitted by the IAF Member (the sending organisation). As an organising organisation, Skills Finland will support delegations with the visa process.
