With the close of the 2012 London Olympics, countless volunteers and athletes around the world are preparing for the start of a new season of another kind of Olympics: Special Olympics.
Special Olympics, the largest sports organization in the world, provides training and competitions for children and adults with intellectual disabilities in a variety of Olympic-type sports. The organization was founded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver in 1968, with the first International Special Olympics Summer Games also held that same year. Today, according to the Special Olympics website, the organization reaches out to more than 3.7 million athletes from more than 170 countries, with the mission to “giv[e] 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.”
The United States alone has a total of 52 programs, including one in Southern California that serves athletes in 11 different counties. People of all ages gather in their nearest counties to volunteer as coaches, trainers, officials, event organizers, fundraisers and more. Athletes, also ranging in age, may participate in 12 different sports divided into two seasons: Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter. Regardless of age or skill level, athletes with intellectual disabilities are welcome to participate in any sport that interests them.
“I was so surprised the first time I volunteered as a swim coach for Special Olympics,” said Michelle Hwang, a senior at Cleveland High School. “All the athletes are so enthusiastic and welcoming that I loved coaching right away.”
The Fall season for most counties in Southern California will begin sometime between the end of August to the beginning of September, and various sports including tennis, bowling, and softball are being offered in different locations. While some of the athletes are returning from previous years, some will be new to the program.
“I love watching my son be so active each year,” said Fern Bridges, the mother of a Special Olympics tennis player. “It helps him not only physically, but also mentally as he interacts with his coaches and other athletes.”
Many of these athletes will compete in local tournaments, while some train for higher level competitions like the Special Olympics World Games. The World Games are held every other year, alternating between summer and winter. The next Winter Games will be held in PyeongChang, South Korea in January to February 2013, while the next Summer Games will be held in Los Angeles, Ca. in July 2015.
