Since officially launching in 1997 as a Special Olympics program, Healthy Athletes has grown to provide seven different health screenings — Fit Feet, FUNfitness, Healthy Hearing, Health Promotion, Opening Eyes®, MedFest and Special Smiles® — with the goal to improve athletes' ability to train and compete. These free health screenings have been implemented globally in more than 90 countries, and nearly 500,000 screenings have been completed since its inception.

Special Olympics Healthy Athletes continues to expand rapidly around the globe:

More than 76,000 health professionals and health professions students have volunteered at Healthy Athletes events from 1997-2007. Special Olympics has conducted screenings for more than 689,000 athletes at more than 3,000 events during that time. 

Healthy Athletes currently screens athletes in more than 90 Special Olympics Programs around the world.

Data from the Healthy Athletes venues are entered into a Web-based software application called Healthy Athletes Software system (HAS) to constitute the largest database of health data in existence. The health data gathered at events are important for planning, programs, gaining support, improving policies and research.

The success of Special Olympics Healthy Athletes events depends on partnering:

• Special Olympics program staff support the work of trained Healthy Athletes volunteers to provide event-based health opportunities for athletes. 
• Event managers create an environment for positive interaction between health care professionals, other volunteers and Special Olympics athletes and their families. 
• Products, equipment and cash donations from local, national and international companies help to support the program. 
• Financial support of governmental and philanthropic sponsors helps the program grow. 
• Support of the volunteer opportunities offered by Special Olympics Healthy Athletes provides ongoing community network for improved access to health care for Special Olympics athletes — creating a legacy of care.

The key objectives of Special Olympics Healthy Athletes are:

• Improve access and health care for Special Olympics athletes at event-based health screenings. 
• Make referrals to local health practitioners when appropriate.
• Train health care professionals a
  nd students in the health professions about the needs and care of people with intellectual disabilities. 
• Collect, analyze and disseminate data on the health status and needs of people with intellectual disabilities. 
• Advocate for improved health policies and programs for person with intellectual disabilities.