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Benefits | |
Guidelines |
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Philosophy | |
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The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for all children and adults with mental retardation, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community. Although the mission is the same Globally, every area with special children know what a person gift this can be to the families involved. One goal for everyone; have a great time while discovering your own potential. The benefits involved in participating and/or giving your time to the athletes are more and more apparent all the time. Special Olympics contributes to many factors; Physical well being, sharing, friendships, fun and the good old excitement of healthy competition. Self esteem is so important to us all and this is a program that really strives to make all involved feel their best and give it all they have got. There is much to be said for having confidence in a game, and that in itself will be carried over in all aspects of life. Special Olympics believes that people with mental retardation can, with proper encouragement, learn, enjoy, and benefit from participation in individual and team sports. If given the chance, no matter how high or low functioning the individual is. They have a potential that can be reached if only given a chance and a warm heart to believe in them. For some it might be running a long distance, to others... just a few feet. But if that person did the best they could do and challenged their own capabilities than they have won. Special Olympics takes it's role very seriously in promoting health, good nutrition, and physical conditioning. The heart, mind, and soul are nurtured to bring out success. Special Olympics seeks to uphold the spirit of sportsmanship and love of participation for their own sake. Special Olympics believes that every athlete should participate to his or her fullest potential. This means that in team sports, each coach must see to it that each athlete has frequent opportunities to participate. This also means that each Games and Tournament should offer as many sports as possible, with events for athletes of all ability levels. Special Olympics promotes this philosophy in the training of its coaches and officials. To provide the most enjoyable, beneficial and challenging activities for athletes with mental retardation, Special Olympics operates worldwide in accordance with the following principles and beliefs: That the Spirit of Special Olympics- skill, courage, sharing and joy- incorporates universal values which transcend all boundaries of geography, nationality, political philosophy, gender, age, race or religion. That the goal of Special Olympics is to help bring all persons with mental retardation into the larger society under condition whereby they are accepted, respected and given a chance to become productive citizens. That as a means of achieving this goal, Special Olympics encourages its more capable athletes to move from Special Olympics training and competition into school and community programs where they can compete in regular sporting activities. The decision to leave or to continue Special Olympics is the athlete's choice. That all Special Olympics activities- at the local, state, national and international levels- reflect the values, standards, traditions, ceremonies and events embodied in the modern olympic movement, broadened and enriched to celebrate the moral and spiritual qualities of persons with mental retardation so as to enhance their dignity and self esteem. That participation in Special Olympics training programs and events is open to all people with mental retardation who are at least eight years old, regardless of the degree of their disability. That comprehensive, year-round sports training is available to every Special Olympics athlete, conducted by well-qualified coaches in accordance with the standardized Sports Rules formulated and adopted by Special Olympics International and that every athlete who participates in a Special Olympics sport will be trained in that sport. That every Special Olympics program includes sports events and activities that are appropriate to the age and ability of each athlete, from motor activities to the most advanced competition. That Special Olympics provides full participation for every athlete regardless of economic circumstance and conducts training and competition under the most favorable conditions possible, including facilities, administration, training, coaching, officiating, and events. That Special Olympics gives each participant an equal chance to excel by basing competition in every event on accurate records of previous performance or trial heats and, when relevant, by grouping by age and gender. That at every Awards Ceremony, in addition to the traditional medals for first, second, and third places, athletes finishing from fourth to last place are presented a suitable place ribbon with appropriate ceremony. That, to the greatest extent possible, Special Olympics activities will be run by involving local volunteers, from school and college age to senior citizens, in order to create greater opportunities for public understanding of and participation with people with mental retardation. |