Special Olympics
According to information released by the Special Olympics Organizing Committee, the Special Olympics is the number one event of the Special Olympics and is held according to the Olympic model A mass sports event for children and adults with various learning disabilities around the world. The Paralympics provide competitive opportunities for athletes with physical disabilities, and the Special Olympics provide opportunities for athletes with intellectual disabilities to participate. The Special Olympics Summer Games are held the year before the Olympic Games, while the Paralympic Games are held immediately after the Olympic Games. The Special Olympics and Paralympic Games are independent organizations recognized by the International Olympic Committee.
The history of the Special Olympics is not long. In the early 1960s, Irish-American Eunice Kennedy Shriver organized a summer camp for mentally retarded people in Maryland, USA. She was surprised to find that the abilities of people with intellectual disabilities in sports and physical activities were far beyond the imagination of many experts, which led to the idea of ??organizing a sports meeting. From 1968 when she founded the first Special Olympics in Chicago, USA to 2003, Special Olympics organizations have been established in more than 160 countries around the world, and millions of people with intellectual disabilities from all over the world have participated in this event.
If the “faster, higher, stronger” pursuit of the Olympic Games is to challenge the limits of human beings, then what the Special Olympics pursues is for participants to challenge his or her personal limits. The mission of the Special Olympics is to create conditions and opportunities for children over 8 years old and adults with various learning disabilities to participate in daily Olympic sports training and competition. Each project has different activities designed for people with intellectual disabilities at different ability levels. The competition is organized not by age but by ability to encourage people with intellectual disabilities to unleash their potential, perform bravely, share happiness, exchange skills and enhance friendship with other players and family members during participation.
The motto of the Special Olympics is: Try bravely and win.
The spirit of the Special Olympics is: skill, courage, sharing and joy that transcends boundaries of country, politics, gender, age, race and religion.
The goal of the Special Olympics is to give people with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to become citizens who are useful to society, recognized and respected by society.
Generally speaking, there are 26 Special Olympics sports. Summer Special Olympics sports include water sports (swimming, diving), track and field, badminton, basketball, outdoor bocce, bowling, cycling, equestrian, football, golf, gymnastics, weightlifting, roller skating, sailing, softball, table tennis, Tennis, handball and volleyball. The Special Olympics Winter Games include alpine skiing, floor hockey, cross-country skiing, figure skating and speed skating.
Special Olympics (abbreviation for Special Olympics) is an international sports training and competition based on the Olympic spirit and specially established for people with intellectual disabilities. The Special Olympics sports program is very rich, from the most basic functional activities to the most advanced competitions, suitable for Special Olympics athletes of all ages and ability levels.
The founder of the Special Olympics Movement - Ms. Eunice Kennedy Shriver, as the executive vice president of the Kennedy Foundation and the founder of the Special Olympics Movement, has been committed to strengthening and improving people with intellectual disabilities for thirty years. improve the quality of life and enable them to participate in social life. She was the fifth child of the Kennedys' nine children. She was born in Brooklyn, Massachusetts, and graduated from Stanford University in California with a degree in social sciences. After graduation, she worked for the U.S. government in various capacities in various areas of social work. In 1957, he took over the Kennedy Foundation and pursued civil rights for intellectually disabled people. Under her leadership, the foundation has made outstanding achievements in medical research, public education, etc. Her work has been recognized internationally and she has received the highest honor in the United States, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
June 1962
Ms. Eunice Kennedy Shriver began organizing summer camps for mentally retarded children and adults in her hometown of Maryland, through various sports activities and Physical exercise develops their potential.
July 20, 1968
The Kennedy Foundation and relevant parties in Chicago jointly planned and held the first International Special Olympics at Soldier Plaza in Chicago. Participants from 26 states in the United States and 1,000 Canadian athletes participated in track and field, swimming, and hockey competitions.
December 1968
Special Olympics International was established as a non-profit charitable organization in the District of Columbia, United States. The American Association for the Mentally Disabled, the Council for Exceptional Children, and the American Association for Mental Retardation all strongly support this first-of-its-kind sports training and competition that upholds the tradition and spirit of the Olympics and provides intellectually disabled children and adults around the world.
August 13-15, 1970
The Second International Summer Special Olympics was held in Chicago, Illinois, USA, with participants from 50 states, the District of Columbia, France and 2,000 athletes from Puerto Rico participated.
August 13-18, 1972
The Third International Summer Special Olympics was held at the University of California, Los Angeles, with 2,500 athletes participating.
August 7-11, 1975
The Fourth International Summer Special Olympics was held at Central Michigan University in Michigan, USA, with 3,200 athletes from 10 countries Participated in the competition. The sporting event was televised nationally by CBS on "Spectacular Sports."
February 5-11, 1977
The first International Winter Special Olympics was held in Colorado, USA. More than 500 athletes participated in skiing and figure skating events. The games were televised by the CBS, ABC and NBC television networks.
August 8-13, 1979
The Fifth International Summer Special Olympics was held at the State University of New York in the United States. More than 3,500 people from all states in the United States and more than 20 countries attended the event. Athletes participated in the competition.
1980-1981
Special Olympics began to implement a coach training and certification program, and published the first issue of the Sports Skills Guide.
March 8-13, 1981
The Second International Winter Special Olympics was held in Vermont, USA. More than 600 athletes participated in alpine skiing, cross-country skiing and skating. game.
July 12-18, 1983
The Sixth International Summer Special Olympics was held at Louisiana State University, involving approximately 4,000 athletes, including 60, More than 000 people attended the opening ceremony.
March 24-29, 1985
14 national teams selected athletes to participate in the skiing and figure skating competitions of the Third International Winter Special Olympics held in Utah, USA. .
September 1986
The International Year of Special Olympics launched by the United Nations Headquarters in New York reached its peak at the 1987 International Summer Special Olympics. The slogan at that time was Special Olympics - Connecting the World.
July 1987
More than 30,000 law enforcement officers from all states and 7 countries participated in the 26,000-mile Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run to promote Special Olympics. . The 1987 Torch Run event raised more than $2 million in sponsorships.
July 31-August 8, 1987
Two universities in Indiana, USA *** co-hosted the 7th International Summer Special Olympics, with participants from 70 countries More than 4,700 athletes participated in the largest amateur sports event of the year. More than 150 million people around the world learned about the Special Olympics Games through the promotion of "Sports Report" and "Times".
October 1987
Jimmy and Vicky of A&M Records, together with Bob Shriver, launched "A Special Christmas Event", which included the best Christmas music by popular musicians is released on vinyl to support Special Olympics programs around the world.
February 1988
The International Olympic Committee signed a historic agreement to officially recognize and accept Special Olympics.
July 1988
The Special Olympics Unified Sports Plan was announced at the Special Olympics Annual Meeting held in Reno, Nevada.
April 1-8, 1989
The Fourth International Winter Special Olympics was held in Reno, Nevada and Lake Tao, California. Participants from 18 countries More than 1,000 athletes participated in the competition.
February 11, 1990
The ABC TV program "Life Goes On" presented to the audience a drama starring a mentally retarded man during prime time. The story of how you became committed to Special Olympics, 1 hour.
February 14, 1990
Sargent Shriver announced a historic decision to absorb the Soviet Union into the Special Olympics movement. Special Olympics was the first charitable organization to implement Special Olympics programs nationwide in the region.
July 20-27, 1990
The third European Summer Special Olympics was held in Scotland. 2,400 athletes representing 30 European countries participated in 8 official games. and 5 exhibition competitions.
July 19-27, 1991
The Eighth International Summer Special Olympics was held in Minnesota, USA, with 6,000 athletes from more than 100 countries participating. This was the world's largest sports event that year. (In 1991, the World Games were officially renamed the International Summer Special Olympics and the Special Winter Olympics)
September 30, 1992
The International Special Olympics was held for the first time at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. organized the 25th anniversary celebrations of Special Olympics with the theme "Together We Win", and launched a 25th anniversary retrospective exhibition at the United Nations Headquarters, which later toured the country.
March 20-27, 1993
The Fifth International Winter Special Olympics was held in Salzburg and Schlemming, Austria. 1, 600 athletes competed for awards in five winter sports. This is also the first time that the International Winter Special Olympics will be held outside of North America.
July 1-9, 1995
More than 7,000 athletes from 143 countries participated in the 9th International Games held in New Haven, Connecticut, USA. Summer Special Olympics and compete in 21 events.
February 1-8, 1997
About 2,000 athletes from 73 countries gathered in Toronto, Canada to participate in the Sixth International Winter Special Competition in 5 Olympic Games events. This Games was also the largest comprehensive sports event in 1997.
July 20, 1998
Special Olympics International held a 30th anniversary celebration called "30 Years of Heroes" and introduced 12 global Special Olympics ambassadors.
December 17, 1998
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Special Olympics, U.S. President Clinton and First Lady Hillary held a "Special Christmas from Washington" at the White House Festival's Christmas Concert. This is the first time a U.S. president has held a Special Olympics-related banquet at the White House, and it is also the first time that all the artists who participated in the successful launch of the "A Special Christmas Event" series of records will be gathered at the White House to perform.
June 26-July 4, 1999
The 10th International Summer Special Olympics was held in North Carolina, USA, with more than 7,000 people from 150 countries Athletes competed in 19 sports.
January 16, 2000
ABC’s number one prime-time television show, “The Wonderful World of Disney,” aired the life story of a Special Olympics athlete – “ Loretta’s Story”.
May 18-22, 2000
The China Special Olympics held the "China Special Olympics Century Tour", which had an impact throughout China. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the internationally renowned movie star and charity ambassador, lit the flame of hope on the Great Wall with Special Olympics athletes and attended banquets held in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen to celebrate the Special Olympics movement. Special Olympics China has committed to increasing the number of Special Olympics athletes from 50,000 to 500,000 by 2005.
May 20-23, 2000
60 athletes from all over the world participated in the first Global Athletes Conference held in the Netherlands to discuss the Special Olympics movement. future. Despite differences in language, culture, age and gender, these athletes did their best to discuss issues in the hope of further improving the situation and voting for new resolutions.
May 27-June 4, 2000
More than 2,000 athletes from 53 Special Olympics regions in Europe and Eurasia gathered in the Netherlands to participate in the 2,000 Games Special Olympics Europe.
December 14, 2000
To celebrate the spirit of Special Olympics, U.S. President Clinton and First Lady Hillary held a "Special Christmas from Washington" at the White House Christmas concert. This is the second time that the President of the United States has held a Special Olympics-related banquet at the White House, and it is also the second time that all the artists involved in the successful launch of the "A Special Christmas Event" series of records have gathered at the White House to perform.
March 4-11, 2001
More than 1,800 athletes from about 70 countries participated in the 7 Special Olympics Winter Games held in Alaska, USA. 2001 International Special Olympics Winter Games. This Games is the largest sports event in Alaska's history.
March 5, 2001
The U.S. Senate held a hearing chaired by Honorary Senator Ted Steven to promote the healthy development of people with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics presented a report on the health status and needs of people with intellectual disabilities and pledged to take action to improve the quality of life and longevity of people with intellectual disabilities. Some well-known spokespersons in the field of intellectual disability and people concerned about health attended the hearing.
March 5-10, 2001
The first Global Youth Summit was held during the 2001 International Winter Special Olympics. ***34 students with intellectual disabilities from around the world and their non-intellectually disabled peers reported during the sports day and discussed how to overcome discrimination and prejudice against children with intellectually disabled faces.
July 9-14, 2001
Special Olympics Africa hopes to launch a campaign starting in South Africa in 2001 to increase the number of Special Olympics athletes across Africa by the end of 2005 Reached 100,000 people. Former South African President Nelson Mandela, current President Thabo Mbeki and Archbishop Desmond Tutu participated in the week-long event with Special Olympics global ambassador Arnold Schwarzenegger and South African Special Olympics athletes, and Let's light the "Fire of Hope" together on Robben Island.
September 2001
The world's latest education expansion project, "Come and Join the Special Olympics" was officially launched. This school-based package is intended for regular school students and includes information about Special Olympics, the Special Olympics mission and its athletes. Through these lesson plans, video CDs, and service education activities, students learn to understand and accept people with intellectual disabilities.
November 16, 2001
The National Association of Athletics Institutes Council awarded Ms. Eunice Kennedy Shriver the 2002 Hildo Roosevelt Award—the National Institutes of Sports The league's highest award for an individual.
On January 13, 2002, Ms. Shriver became the 35th recipient at the National Association of Athletic Colleges Dinner in Indianapolis. This award is presented annually to an outstanding citizen. He or she must have been a collegiate athletic student and exemplify the spirit and goals of collegiate athletics by demonstrating a continued interest and enthusiasm for fitness and athletics. This award is named in recognition of former U.S. President Hildo Roosevelt's contribution to the creation of the National Athletic Association.
December 6, 2001
David Satcher of the Surgeon General honors Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver with the Surgeon General's highest award. The Surgeon General's highest honor recognizes Ms. Shriver's leadership in the world's efforts to improve and transform the lives of people with intellectual disabilities.
December 13, 2001
US President George Bush and First Lady Laura Bush celebrated the "Special Olympics Spirit" at a banquet at the White House. The music performance that night was by the famous blues band B.B. King. The event marked the third time a U.S. president has hosted a Special Olympics dinner at the White House.
February 2002
David Satcher of the U.S. Surgeon General published a health report, "Closing the Disparity: A National Blueprint for Improving the Health of People with Intellectual Disabilities." The report lists The findings were presented at the first-ever Surgeon General's Conference on Health Disparities and People with Intellectual Disabilities, held December 5-6, 2001 at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. The House of Lords hearing on the 2001 Special Olympics World Winter Games played a driving role in this meeting and the subsequent report.
July 18-20, 2002
Nilson Mandela, the Nelson Mandela Foundation and the Special Olympics celebrated this event in Polokwane, South Africa The former South African President's 84th birthday. *** Also participating in the celebration were more than 500 people with intellectual disabilities and their integration partners who had participated in Special Olympics integration activities and Special Olympics athlete health screening activities.
September 2002
China’s Third National Special Olympics Games was held in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province. The 1,300 athletes participating in the Games come from 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions in China. Special Olympics teams from Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, South Korea and Malaysia also participated in the Games. In addition, more than 1,500 volunteers and hundreds of government officials, referees and reporters participated in the competition. 5,000 spectators gathered to witness the opening torch lighting ceremony held on the ancient city wall of Xi'an.
September 7 to October 26, 2002
The "Fire of Hope" lighting ceremony was held at Raj Ghat in New Delhi, India, to commemorate Gandhi and mark the This is the longest torch run in Special Olympics’ 35-year history. More than 25,000 Special Olympics athletes, family members, coaches, volunteers, law enforcement officers, government officials and Olympic athletes held the "Flame of Hope" from Raj Ghat in New Delhi through 27 cities in India. ***23,000 kilometers (14,292 metres).
June 20, 2003
Results of a multinational study of attitudes towards people with intellectual disabilities in Belfast, Northern Ireland Published as part of a 2003 scientific symposium in connection with the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games. Authorized by Special Olympics International, Dr. Gary Siperstein of the University of Massachusetts, Boston, conducted the most extensive and in-depth study on this topic over two years. This report explains how people around the world view the roles and abilities of people with intellectual disabilities in the workplace, in school and in everyday life in society.
June 21-29, 2003
The 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games were held in Dublin, Ireland - the first time the World Special Olympics Games were held outside the United States. hold.
The world's largest sports event in 2003 saw 7,000 athletes from 150 countries participating in 21 sports competitions.
June 22, 2003
Sargent Shriver resigned as chairman of the Special Olympics. Timothy Shriver serves as new President and CEO of Special Olympics.
February 26, 2004
Beijing Boya Company's China Special Olympics strategic event, titled "Shanghai Wins the 2007 Special Olympics Games: Breaking Cultural Boundaries, Dreams Come True "Nominated for the 2003 United Nations Excellence in Public Relations Award.
March 2004
Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver and Special Olympics Chairman and CEO Timothy Shriver announced that Shanghai Won the title of hosting the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games and held a signing ceremony in Shanghai. This is only the second time in the history of Special Olympics that the World Summer Games will be held in a city outside the United States. But this is the first time such a competition is held in Asia. During this period, Eunice Kennedy Shriver and Timothy Shriver were received by Chinese President Hu Jintao and discussed the development of Special Olympics in China.
June 11, 2004
Special Olympics welcomes international basketball star Yao Ming to join the Special Olympics family as Special Olympics global ambassador. Yao Ming is from Shanghai, and his hometown is the venue for the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games.
November 9, 2004
In the history of Special Olympics, the first health clinic to provide services specifically for Special Olympics athletes and people with intellectual disabilities in China was opened in Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China. The Eunice Kennedy Shriver Special Olympics Sports Medicine Center has become a model in the development of the Special Olympics movement. Its founder, Wenzhou Medical College, is also the Regional Cooperation Center of the Special Olympics.
February 26, 2005
The 2005 World Special Olympics Winter Games were officially held in Nagano, Japan. The opening ceremony was held at the M-Wave, the world's largest indoor skating rink. The skating rink was also the venue for speed skating competitions in the 1998 Winter Olympics. The competition of this sports meeting lasted from February 26 to March 5, 2005. Nearly 1,900 athletes from all over the world competed and celebrated the spirit of sport with 650 coaches, more than 10,000 volunteers, family members and friends.
March 21, 2005
Bruce Pastrnak was appointed as the new President and CEO of Special Olympics. Timothy Shriver remains chairman.
November 14, 2005
Arnold Schwarzenegger came to China again to celebrate with the Chinese Special Olympics *** the number of athletes reaching 500,000 by the end of 2005 achievement of goals.
Mission
Create conditions and opportunities for children and adults with intellectual disabilities to participate in daily Olympic sports training and competition, so that they can realize their potential, perform bravely, and compete with other athletes, family members and The entire community shares joy, exchanges skills and fosters friendships.
Special Olympics Mission
Special Olympics believes that with correct guidance and encouragement, people with intellectual disabilities can learn skills, share happiness and benefit from it by participating in sports training and competitions.
Special Olympics believes that long-term and continuous training can stimulate sports skills. By competing against peers of the same level, you can test their skills, measure their progress and inspire each other to grow.
Special Olympics believes that people with intellectual disabilities can improve their adaptability and grow mentally, physically and socially by participating in sports training and competitions. Special Olympics athletes bring these benefits into their daily lives, work, study and community activities. Family members can become closer, community volunteers can become good friends with athletes, and everyone can see the value of people with intellectual disabilities. Give people with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to become citizens who are useful to society, recognized and respected by society.
Principles
Special Olympics organizes the happiest, most rewarding and most challenging sports training and competition for Special Olympics athletes around the world based on the following principles and creeds :
The goal of the Special Olympics is to give people with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to become citizens who are useful to society, recognized and respected by society.
As a way to achieve this goal, Special Olympics encourages higher-ability athletes to move away from daily Special Olympics training and competition to participate in normal sports activities and competitions held in schools and communities. Special Olympics athletes have The right to choose to stay in Special Olympics or continue to participate in the Special Olympics movement.
All Special Olympics events held regionally, nationally and globally reflect the values, standards, traditions, rituals and activities of the modern Olympic movement. We feel the moral and spiritual character of mentally retarded athletes from these sports activities rich in Olympic spirit, and at the same time these sports also enhance their self-esteem.
All mentally retarded people over the age of 8, regardless of their level of intellectual disability, can participate in Special Olympics sports training and competitions.
All Special Olympics athletes can participate in comprehensive, year-round sports training, and well-qualified coaches provide guidance according to the standard sports rules developed and adopted by the Special Olympics. Every athlete participating in a Special Olympics event receives physical training for that event.
From the most basic functional activities to the most advanced competitions, the Special Olympics program includes a variety of Special Olympics games and activities for Special Olympics athletes of all ages and ability levels.
Regardless of financial status, every athlete can participate in the Special Olympics and receive sports training and compete under the most advantageous conditions, including equipment, management, training, coaching, and various ceremonies. and sports day.
At each award ceremony, in addition to the gold, silver, and bronze medals awarded to the top three according to tradition, all athletes who finish the competition from fourth to last will be awarded medals engraved with their rankings. bring.
Let citizens of all ages participate in Special Olympics activities as volunteers to the greatest extent possible, in order to create more opportunities for the public to understand intellectual disabilities.
Although the Special Olympics mainly provides sports training and competitions for people with intellectual disabilities, they also do their best through various activities, such as dances, art exhibitions, concerts, viewing of historical relics, medical diagnosis and treatment, and drama performances. and similar events provide athletes with artistic, social and cultural experiences.
The spirit of the Special Olympics is skill, courage, sharing, and joy that transcends boundaries of geography, country, politics, gender, age, race, and religion.
China Special Olympics Five-Year Plan (2000-2005)
Goal:
Expand the number of people with intellectual disabilities participating in Special Olympics nationwide from 50,000 to 500,000 name.
Establish 8-10 national training centers, 30 provincial training sites and 100 training points for athletes and coaches.
Establish 5,000 community Special Olympics sports centers by 2005, which can provide sports training for at least 100 children and adults.
Carry out special Olympics games at the municipal, provincial and even national levels.
Training:
Conducted seven training lectures for administrative personnel responsible for managing Special Olympics at the provincial and municipal levels.
Provide coaching training workshops in every province, with the goal of recruiting and training more than 4,000 coaches to coach 100,000-120,000 athletes year-round.
In 2000, training centers were established in Beijing, Shanghai, Fuzhou, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Each center provides sports training in gymnastics, track and field, table tennis, basketball, aquatics and football. By 2005, other training centers will be established in other cities.
Carry out Special Olympics activities in the following provinces: Ningxia, Qinghai, Xinjiang, Hainan and Tibet, and support and cooperate with each other in provinces that have already launched sports.
Competition:
The National Special Olympics Games will be held in 2002 and 5-6 national or regional individual sports games will be launched.
Implement Special Olympics Games or individual sports games in every province.
Organize and train the Chinese delegation to participate in the 2003 and 2005 International Special Olympics Games.
Develop new sports such as badminton, bowling, roller skating, weightlifting, volleyball and cycling.
Special Olympics China was established in 1985 and has more than 400,000 athletes. There are 24 training and competition events, mainly including: water sports, track and field, basketball, badminton, cycling, football, gymnastics, volleyball, speed skating, figure skating, roller skating, table tennis, bowling and weightlifting.
The first China Special Olympics was held in Shenzhen in 1987, and later regional games were held in Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Tianjin. In November 1996, more than 1,000 athletes representing 16 countries participated in the first Asia-Pacific Special Olympics hosted by Shanghai. Since 1987, China has sent delegations to participate in the Summer and Winter Special Olympics held every two years. In 2005, China sent 68 athletes to Nagano, Japan to participate in the World Special Olympics Winter Games.
Special Olympics is driven primarily by volunteers, with thousands of individuals from all walks of life volunteering their time to coach, organize events, raise funds and more. Special Olympics China has received generous funding from individuals and businesses, the China Disabled Persons' Federation, the Ministry of Civil Affairs of China, the China Charity Foundation, and Chinese government departments at all levels.
There are approximately 39 million people with intellectual disabilities in China, and the Special Olympics strives to increase the number of athletes with intellectual disabilities in China to 500,000 by 2005. To achieve this ambitious goal, Special Olympics China is working hard to raise funds to meet the needs of training 500,000 athletes in five years. Special Olympics China will rely on government and private sector funding and sponsorship to help people with intellectual disabilities realize their full potential and become not just an athlete, but a valuable member of society.
What are Special Olympics?
The Special Olympics is an event that provides year-round international sports training and competition for more than 2.25 million children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
Special Olympics slogan:
Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.)
Our leaders are: Ms. Eunice Kennedy Shriver (Founder and Chairman Emeritus), Dr. Timothy Shriver (Chairman), Bruce Pastrnak (President and CEO)
Our mission is:
Create conditions and opportunities for children and adults with intellectual disabilities to participate in daily Olympic sports training and competition, so that they can realize their potential, perform bravely, and compete with other athletes, Families and the entire community share joy, exchange skills and develop friendships.
Our goal is: To give people with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to become citizens who are useful to society, recognized and respected by society.
Benefits: By participating in Special Olympics sports, people with intellectual disabilities can enhance physical function, motor skills, self-esteem, confidence, develop friendships and receive support from family members. Special Olympics athletes bring these benefits into their daily lives, work, school and community activities. Family members can become closer, community volunteers and athletes can become good friends, and everyone can see the value of people with intellectual disabilities.
The spirit of the Special Olympics is: skill, courage, sharing, and joy that transcends boundaries of country, politics, gender, age, race, and religion.
The establishment of the Special Olympics: In 1968, Ms. Eunice Kennedy Shriver held the first international Special Olympics at Soldier Plaza in Chicago, Illinois, USA. In early 1960, Ms. Shriver organized a summer camp for the mentally retarded, which led to the idea of ??organizing sports games because she saw that the abilities of the mentally retarded in sports and physical activities were far beyond what many experts had imagined.
Since its inception in 1968, millions of children and adults with intellectual disabilities have participated in the Special Olympics Games.
Around the world: Special Olympics organizations have been established in more than 160 countries. Special Olympics activities take place all over the world.
In the United States: Special Olympics organizations have been established in all 50 states, including Washington, DC, Guam, the Virgin Islands and American Samoa. There are nearly 25,000 communities offering Special Olympics activities.
Through the implementation of Special Olympics model schools, Special Olympics sports training courses in public schools, and in-class and extra-curricular sports competitions for first- and second-grade students with intellectual disabilities, communities in 11 major cities Special Olympics school training and competition activities were carried out among , families and groups.
Eligibility: Athletes participating in the Special Olympics must be at least eight years old and determined by relevant institutions and professionals to meet one of the following conditions: intellectual disability; cognitive ability is deemed to be slow under standard standards; due to Persons whose cognitive abilities are slow, resulting in significant learning and life deficiencies, and who require special guidance.
Integrated sports: Teams with intellectually disabled people and generally able-bodied people*** are trained and competed according to age and physical fitness. This activity was established in 1987 with the purpose of enabling people with intellectual disabilities to participate in schools and communities. Physical activities are integrated into normal people.
Special Olympics provides year-round training: 25 official competition events. Special Olympics created and tested these sports, each of which is detailed in the Sports Guide. More than 140,000 coaches are qualified for training.
Athlete Grouping: Athletes are divided into groups according to age and ability. Special Olympics gives each athlete an equal chance to win. Each athlete should be selected from the regional, national and world Special Olympics.
Athletes with severe disabilities: Special Olympics organized physical trainers, physical therapists and psychotherapists to create an activity training plan. MATP (Mobile Training Program) believes the focus is on training and participation, not competition. MATP is part of the Special Olympics organization and provides physical training to all people with intellectual disabilities.
Special Olympics Games: Same as Olympic Games. More than 20,000 summer or winter competitions, round-robin competitions, etc. are held around the world every year. The International Special Olympics Games are held every two years, alternating between summer and winter, and representatives from each organization are selected to participate.