"The 2018 Special Olympics USA Games will showcase the abilities of athletes with intellectual disabilities, promote the ideals of acceptance and inclusion through sport, and celebrate the transformative power of Special Olympics".
- Beth Knox, President and CEO, 2018 Special Olympics USA Games
- Beth Knox, President and CEO, 2018 Special Olympics USA Games
About Them
Through the power of sports, people with intellectual disabilities discover new strengths and abilities, skills and success. The athletes find joy, confidence, and fulfillment -- on the playing field and in life. They also inspire people in their communities and elsewhere to open their hearts to a wider world full of human talents and potential.
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Changing Attitudes
Special Olympics is the leading voice in raising awareness about the abilities of the people with intellectual disabilities. Through sports, they showcase the skills and dignity of the athletes. They also bring together communities to see and take part in the transformative power of sports. They know the struggle the athletes must overcome and the barriers they face every single day. During training events and competitions though the athletes push to beat their personal bests -- and exceed them. Their stories and success are inspiration to us all. The Special Olympics believes in a world where where there are millions of different abilities but not disabilities.
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Real Sports
Sports are a powerful force. Sports can shift the focus from disability to ability, from isolation to involvement. The Special Olympics offers the highest quality Olympic-style sports training and competition for people with intellectual disabilities all around the world. This changes attitudes and changes lives.
The transformative power of sports to instill confidence, improve health and inspire a sense of competition is at the core of what Special Olympics does. From the detailed coaching guides they provide in many languages to the sharp-eyed officials at their international games, the focus is on real sports, real competition, real achievements. Since 1968, Special Olympics has been spreading the message: people with intellectual disabilities can – and will – succeed when given the opportunity. And it all happens through the simple power of sport. At Special Olympics, they believe that sports can teach us all important lessons. When they train and strive for a goal, it teaches them to dream. When they struggle, it teaches them determination. When they win, they find joy. And if they lose, they can find the strength to try again. The Special Olympics sports events bring together a large and inclusive community of athletes, supporters and families, coaches, volunteers and many others. The athletes are at the center of it all -- to the shared joy of themselves, their families and their communities. These events help us all rediscover the purity of sports -- and real athletic pursuits -- based on true Olympic ideals. |
Youth Involvement
Since Day 1, Special Olympics has been based on the premise that lasting change must start with young people. Every day, they are working together to inspire long-term transformations in the actions and attitudes of the next generation, with the goal of creating a more inclusive world than ever before. Through sports and leadership activities, Special Olympics provides opportunities for young people of all abilities to be leaders in their schools and communities. These leadership activities help students with and without intellectual disabilities find their voices by teaching them to become change agents, striving for respect and inclusion. And sports helps everyone get fitter and healthier -- together! These programs include the Special Olympics Unified Strategy for schools and youth. This initiative is based on the evidence that students who “play unified” become better at helping others, sharing responsibility, and standing up for each other. It can also be seen how students involved in Special Olympics Unified programs gain patience and the ability to compromise. They learn to embrace diversity and respect differences. This leads to higher levels of social and emotional security for ALL students, with and without disabilities, who feel safe from teasing, bullying and social exclusion.
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Building Communities
Special Olympics works to spread compassion and acceptance in a way that can unite the world. Their goal is to awaken everyone -- and every community -- to each person’s common humanity. This vision of inclusion starts at the local level. It is expanding on a global scale. There are up to 200 million people with intellectual disabilities around the world. The Special Olympics want to reach out to every one of them – and their families and communities as well. Special Olympics does this through a wide range of training, competitions, health screenings and fund-raising events. They also create opportunities for families, community members, local leaders, businesses, law enforcement, celebrities, dignitaries and others to team together to change attitudes and support athletes. Some of their key program efforts to build communities include: Unified sports, Athlete Leadership programs, Family Engagement, Healthy Athletes and Young Athletes. Special Olympics knows no boundaries. Without regard to gender, race, religion, economic or education level, Special Olympics has the ability to unite all walks of life.
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Healthier Athletes
Special Olympics is also the worlds largest public health organization for people with intellectual disabilities. Many of the athletes come to us with neglected health problems. At World Games and other events, they offer a wide range of free health exams and care. The Special Olympics goal is to bring better fitness, nutrition and healthier lifestyles to everyone involved in Special Olympics -- from athletes and their families, to coaches and volunteers.
Leading Research
Justice means being morally right, equitable and fair. Changing lives for the better means giving people services that make a positive impact. Neither is possible without a solid understanding of what’s needed, and a plan for how to provide it. Special Olympics attitude research shows that the majority of people worldwide underestimate the abilities of people with intellectual disabilities. Our research also shows that their capabilities far exceed their expectations. With this knowledge in hand, they are opening doors for greater opportunities for them in education, health care and employment. Special Olympics leads the world in researching and addressing the concerns of people with intellectual disabilities. They identify the pressing issues facing this group, commission and conduct high-level, externally validated scientific research, then reach out to the highest leaders in government, health care, education, the nonprofit sector and business to influence policy and to bring valuable services to those in need. Special Olympics’ research into intellectual disability, and perceptions of those who have intellectual disability, is a catalytic force for social and policy change around the globe.
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Sports for Children Under Eight
Special Olympics Young Athletes™ is a unique sport and play program for children with intellectual disabilities. The focus is on fun activities that are important to mental and physical growth. Children ages 2 to 7 enjoy games and activities that develop motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Young Athletes is an early introduction to sports and to the world of Special Olympics. The children learn new things, play and have lots of fun! Parents say their children in Young Athletes also develop better social skills. The confidence boost makes it easier for them to play and talk with other children on the playground and elsewhere.
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Athlete Leadership
Through sports training and competitions, Special Olympics helps people with intellectual disabilities achieve joy, acceptance and success. They gain the confidence that comes with achievement. They feel empowered.he Special Olympics Athlete Leadership Program can take athletes even farther -- as leaders and spokespeople respected in their communities. The Special Olympic athletes can become mentors for other athletes. They can train to become coaches and officials. They can also move toward a more public role as a speaker or spokesperson, telling audiences and journalists about the remarkable changes that Special Olympics helped bring to their lives. Many athletes choose to undergo training to learn presentation skills so they can help spread the message of Special Olympics to the general public. Athlete Leadership trainings are offered in 67 countries and are initiated at the grass-roots level. Many athletes are trained to engage in policy discussions and to articulate their opinions to community and government leaders.
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