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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