Debunking What Everyone Believes About Special Olympics

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Special Olympics is an international nonprofit organization* dedicated to empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities to become physically fit, productive and respected members of society through sports training and competition. Special Olympics offers children and adults with intellectual disabilities year-round training and competition in 30 Olympic-type summer and winter sports. (*Special Olympics is recognized as a tax-exempt organization under U.S. Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3).)
Special Olympics offers children and adults with intellectual disabilities year-round training and competition in 30 Olympic-type summer and winter sports.

Special Olympics currently serves 2.5 million people with intellectual disabilities in more than 200 Programs in over 180 countries. Those numbers are the result of an overwhelmingly successful Campaign for Growth that began in 2000. That year, Special Olympics made a bold commitment to reach 2 million athletes by the end of 2005, while simultaneously changing attitudes about people with intellectual disabilities around the world. Over the course of those five years, in addition to providing more than 1 million more athletes the opportunity to experience the joy of sport, Special Olympics transformed itself.
< Read The Heart of Growth, an article by Special Olympics Chairman Timothy Shriver on the success of The Campaign for Special Olympics >

Today, Special Olympics stands as a leader in the field of intellectual disability. It is a truly global movement, with more than 500,000 athletes in China, more than 210,000 in India, almost 550,000 in the United States, more than 600 in Afghanistan and 4,400 athletes in Rwanda. Special Olympics World Games were held in Ireland in 2003 and Japan in 2005 and, in 2007, China will host the World Summer Games. Most importantly, Special Olympics sharpened the focus on its mission as not just "nice," but critical, not just as a sports organization for people with intellectual disabilities, but also as an effective catalyst for social change.

Children and adults with intellectual disabilities who participate in Special Olympics develop improved physical fitness and motor skills, greater self-confidence and a more positive self-image. They grow mentally, socially and spiritually and, through their activities, exhibit boundless courage and enthusiasm, enjoy the rewards of friendship and ultimately discover not only new abilities and talents but "their voices" as well.

Naw... just a little slow in finding this one

So do you feel like the general population thinks of Special Olympics in a less-than-respectful way?

I never thought of it as being just for folks with intellectual disabilities.... I thought it covered some physical disabilities as well, although I am aware of the Para-Olympics as well.

Thanks for the info.

So, what events do you participate in?
Don't you do martial arts on your own?

Special Olympics offers 30 Olympic-type individual and team sports that provide meaningful training and competition opportunities for persons with intellectual disabilities, including age-appropriate activities and activities for lower ability athletes. For persons with severe limitations who do not yet possess the physical and/or behavioral skills necessary to participate in these sports, Special Olympics also offers the Motor Activities Training Program (MATP).
Special Olympics Official Sports

Alpine Skiing
Aquatics
Athletics
Badminton
Basketball
Bocce
Bowling
Cross Country Skiing
Cycling
Equestrian
Figure Skating
Floor Hockey
Football (Soccer)
Golf


Gymnastics
Judo
Powerlifting
Roller Skating
Sailing
Snowboarding
Snowshoeing
Softball
Speed Skating
Table Tennis
Team Handball
Tennis
Volleyball

Special Olympics Recognized Sports

Cricket
Kayaking
Netball

What's The Ringer?

GMU LIFE PATRIOTS BRING HOME GOLD (MEN) AND SILVER (WOMEN) MEDALS

FROM VIRGINIA SPECIAL OLYMPICS BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT


The GMU LIFE Special Olympics basketball teams attended the Virginia State championship tournament this past weekend held in Stafford. The teams departed from Finley at 12:45 PM and had lunch on arriving for the preliminary competitions beginning at 2:45 PM. The divisioning was slow and the matchups were not ideal. The coaches, therefore, did not know what to expect during Saturday’s games.

In the first GMU men’s game vs. Edison White, the men fell behind 10-2 in the first quarter, but managed to get their game together and lead at halftime, 12-10. In the second half of a very tough game, Zach Chapman unfortunately fouled out. With Jerry Holy scoring 12 points and Ryan Laverty 10, we kept the lead and the game finished 22-20 for a GMU win.

In the second game vs. Stafford Titans White, the team played strong the entire game as they built a 14-point advantage at halftime and coasted to a 34-14 victory. Scoring were Jerry Holy, 14 points; Ryan Laverty, 10 points; Dan Ricchi, 2 points; and Vinny Roubin, 2 points. Everyone on the team played quite a bit and had opportunities to score. Congratulations are in order for bringing a first place gold medal home to

GMU for two years in a row.

The GMU women played the Stafford Titans Blue in both of their games. The women played their best two games of the season and both games were very competitive.

In the first game, they fell behind 10-2 at halftime, but roared back to take a lead in the third quarter before running out of gas and losing, 18-14. Kia scored 16 points and Lauren, 2. In the second game, GMU led 3-2 after the first quarter, 8-6 at halftime and 10-8 at the third quarter mark. They worked hard as Kia had four fouls at halftime and was being held back. The Titans came back in the fourth quarter and defeated GMU, 16-12. Scoring were Kia with 8 points and Caitlin, 4 points.

The girls came home with a hard-earned silver medal. Coach Leo says the parents have to feed them MEAT to toughen them up for next season. To succeed, everyone on the team has to concentrate and work hard. It takes a whole team effort to win a Gold ! !

I participate in Special Olympics, too.

Sweet, what sports?