PHILOSOPHY
Special Olympics is founded on
the belief that people with
intellectual disabilities can,
with proper instruction and
encouragement, learn, enjoy and
benefit from participation in
individual and team sports.
Special Olympics also believes
that through millions of
individual acts of inclusion
where people with and without
intellectual disabilities are
brought together, long-standing
myths are dispelled, negative
attitudes changed and new
opportunities to embrace and
celebrate people with
intellectual disabilities are
created.
Mission
and Vision
Special
Olympics mission
is to provide year-round
sports training and
athletic competition in a
variety of Olympic-type
sports for children and
adults with intellectual
disabilities, 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.
Special
Olympics vision
is to transform
communities by inspiring
people throughout the
world to open their
minds, accept and include
people with intellectual
disabilities and thereby
anyone who is perceived
as different.
Key Principles
Special Olympics operates
worldwide in accordance
with the following
principles:
That
the goal of Special
Olympics is to help bring
all persons with
intellectual disabilities
into the larger society
under conditions 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 sports
activities. It is the
athlete s choice whether
or not to continue
involvement in Special
Olympics.
That
all Special Olympics
activities at the local,
state/provincial,
national and
international levels
reflect the values,
standards, traditions,
ceremonies and events
embodied in the modern
Olympic movement. These
Olympic-type activities
have been broadened and
enriched to celebrate the
moral and spiritual
qualities of persons with
intellectual disabilities
in order to enhance their
dignity and self-esteem.
That
participation in Special
Olympics training
programs and competitive
events is open to all
people with intellectual
disabilities who are at
least 8 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, and
that each athlete who
participates in Special
Olympics will be trained
in their sport.
That
every Special Olympics
Program includes sports
events and activities
that are appropriate to
the age and ability level
of each athlete.
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
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 and involve
local volunteers, from
school and college-age
individuals to senior
citizens, in order to
foster greater
understanding of
intellectual
disabilities.
That,
although Special Olympics
is primarily a program of
sports training and
competition, efforts are
made to offer athletes a
full range of artistic,
social and cultural
experiences through
activities such as
dances, art exhibits,
concerts, visits to
historic sites, clinics,
theatrical performances
and similar events.
That
the "Spirit of
Special Olympics"
skill, courage, sharing
and joy incorporates
universal values that
transcend all boundaries
of geography,
nationality, political
philosophy, gender, age,
race or religion.
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