Special Olympics for the Disabled

The Special Olympics is an international organization and competition held every two years, alternating between Summer and Winter Games, for people who have intellectual disabilities. There are also local, national and regional competitions in over 150 countries worldwide. People with disabilities who pursue aquatics through Special Olympics become successful swimmers and competitors.

The first International Special Olympics Summer Games were held in Chicago in 1968. Anne McGlone Burke, a physical education teacher with the Chicago Park District, began with the idea for a one-time Olympic-style athletic competition for people with special needs. Burke then approached Eunice Kennedy Shriver , head of the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation, to fund the event. Shriver encouraged Burke to expand on the idea and the JPK Foundation provided a grant of $25,000.

More than 1,000 athletes from across the United States and Canada participated. At the Games, Shriver announced the formation of Special Olympics. Shriver's sister, Rosemary Kennedy, underwent a lobotomy in an effort to alter her personality. The brain damage inflicted by the operation caused a severe permanent intellectual disability. This disability is often credited as Shriver's inspiration to help grow the Special Olympics.

In June 1962, Eunice Kennedy Shriver started a day camp, known as Camp Shriver, for children with intellectual disabilities at her home in Potomac, Maryland. Using Camp Shriver as an example, Shriver promoted the concept of involvement in physical activity and competition opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities. Camp Shriver became an annual event, and the Kennedy Foundation (of which Shriver was Executive Vice President) gave grants to universities, recreation departments and community centers to hold similar camps.

In 1971, The U.S. Olympic Committee gave the Special Olympics official approval to use the name "Olympics". The first International Special Olympics Winter Games were held in February 1977 in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, USA. In 1988, the Special Olympics was officially recognized by the International Olympic Committee.

In 1997, Healthy Athletes became an official Special Olympics initiative, offering health information and screenings to Special Olympics athletes worldwide.

On October 30, 2004, President George W. Bush signed into law the "Special Olympics Sport and Empowerment Act," Public Law 108-406. The bill authorized funding for its Healthy Athletes, Education, and Worldwide Expansion programs. In July 2006, the first Special Olympics USA National Games were held at Iowa State University <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iowa_State_University>. Teams from all 50 states and the District of Columbia <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/District_of_Columbia> participated.

In 2003 the first Special Olympics World Summer Games to be held outside of the United States took place in Dublin <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dublin> Ireland. Approximately 7000 athletes from 150 countries competed in over 18 disciplines. The Dublin <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dublin> games were also the first to have their own opening and closing ceremonies broadcast live, performed by President of Ireland <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/President_of_Ireland> Mary McAleese <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_McAleese>

Participation

More than three million athletes of all ages are involved in Special Olympics sports training and competition in over 170 countries. The organization offers year-round training and competition in 30 Olympic-type summer and winter sports.

The Special Olympics motto is "Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt."

The sport of swimming is among the most popular sports in the world today. Swimming, unlike other sports activities, is a life skill that is taught first to ensure the safety of the person, and secondly for sports and competitive purposes. People with disabilities who pursue aquatics through Special Olympics become successful swimmers and competitors.

Athletes are taught aquatic techniques that develop their coordination, physical fitness and sense of accomplishment. Aquatics are a lifetime skill for both sports and fitness. Special Olympics consistently stress the well-being of the athlete and fairness in competition. They are taught how to progress through the four competitive strokes and the medley event.

The program presents athletes with instruction on how to arrange a basic training program for maximum efficiency. They are taught to design a program with the goal of obtaining an advanced level of fitness, and encouraged to have an attitude of success through personal achievement.

Special Olympics believes the best way to get a person interested in aquatics is to get them into the swimming pool. The program works with non-skilled or low-skilled swimmers from an observer to a competitor. Special Olympics presents skills to people with disabilities in an order that ensures the athlete immediate and tangible results. The skills the athlete obtains progress as their interests grow. Coaches for the aquatics program teach and coach skills which best suit the individual and their needs.

Aquatics Swimming Events

Special Olympics Aquatics events are all conducted in a meters pool. Competitions might be conducted over any distance; however, official times from meter pools are seeded in first priority for international competition over any distance. Swimming events range from twenty-five meter to fifteen-hundred meter events in:

* 25-Meter Freestyle

* 25-Meter Backstroke

* 25-Meter Breaststroke

* 25-Meter Butterfly

* 15-Meter Walk

* 15-Meter Floatation Race

* 25-Meter Floatation Race

* 10-Meter Assisted Swim

* 15-Meter Unassisted Swim

Good Sportsmanship

Special Olympics believes' good sportsmanship is the responsibility of both the coach and the athlete. The coach and the athlete must commit to fair play, integrity, and ethical behavior. In both perception and practice, sportsmanship is defined as those qualities which are characterized by generosity and genuine concern for others. Where competitive efforts are concerned, the Special Olympics believes' coaches should lead by example, and athletes should:

* Put forth maximum effort during each event

* Practice the skills with the same intensity as you would perform them in competition

* Always finish a race or event- Never quit

* Always comply with the rules

* Demonstrate sportsmanship and fair play at all times

* Respect the decision of the officials at all times

Special Olympics Coaches

Special Olympics has evolved and expanded over the years and it has become evident to them that the key to offering athletes quality training involves local coaching. Special Olympics believes if coaches are educated in coaching methods and techniques, the mission of Special Olympics in offering quality sports training and athletic competition is enhanced for everyone involved.

The organization has a number of objectives related to their Principles of Coaching course. These principles include:

* To develop an understanding of Special Olympics and identify a coaching philosophy for each participant

* To apply the sport management team approach in recruiting athletes, volunteers and family members and develop training plans for conducting sport-specific training programs for Special Olympics athletes

* To identify practical methods for enhancing athlete performance by developing sport confidence through effective coaching techniques

* To apply the principles of strength, endurance and flexibility training and nutrition as they apply to Special Olympics athletes

* To provide a safe environment for Special Olympics athletes during training and competition

The Special Olympics expects their coaches to always set a good example for participants and fans to follow. Coaches are expected to instruct participants in proper sportsmanship responsibilities, and to demand that athletes make ethics and sportsmanship the top priorities. Respect for the judgment of contest officials is also expected of coaches, as well as abiding by the rules of the event, and the display of appropriate behavior which does not incite fans.

Special Olympics coaches are expected to treat opposing coaches, directors, participants, and fans with respect. They are expected to shake hands with officials and the opposing coach when in public. They are also expected to develop and enforce penalties for athletes who do not abide by sportsmanship standards.

The coaches who participate in Unified Sports, like coaches for Special Olympics, are expected to accept seriously the responsibilities and privileges of representing Special Olympics. They are expected to define winning as doing your personal best. Coaches for Unified Sports, as well as those for Special Olympics, are expected to live up to the high standards of sportsmanship, and encourage teammates when they make a mistake.

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