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Find out what's happening in your area.
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Special Olympics Unified Sports® is an initiative that combines approximately equal numbers of Special
Olympics athletes and athletes without intellectual disabilities (called Partners) on sports teams for
training and competition. Age and ability matching of athletes and Partners is defined on a sport-by-sport
basis.
Throughout the year, in a variety of sports ranging from basketball to golf to figure skating, Unified Sports
athletes improve their physical fitness, sharpen their skills, challenge the competition and have fun, too.
The concept of combining athletes with intellectual disabilities and those without was first introduced in
the mid-1980s to provide another level of challenge for higher ability athletes and to promote equality
and inclusion.
Unified Sports enables athletes to:
- Learn new sports;
- Develop higher-level sports skills;
- Have new competition experiences;
- Experience meaningful inclusion as each athlete is ensured of playing a valued role on the team;
- Socialize with peers and form friendships (the initiative provides a forum for positive social interaction between teammates and often leads to long-lasting friendships);
- Participate in their communities and have choices outside of Special Olympics
Unified Sports programs often are initiated by community partners, including parks and recreation departments,
schools, Boys and Girls Clubs of America and community sports organizations. These partnerships help further
include athletes in their community.
The Special Olympics Unified Sports handbook includes all the information coaches need to start and maintain a
successful Unified Sports program.
View the Unified Sports handbook.
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Work directly with the athletes, assist with competitions or assist in making our events
successful.
As a contributor, you are the springboard for the vision of Special Olympics, helping our
athletes better themselves and learn valuable lessons.
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"Thanks to the Athlete Leadership Program, I learned I am a very strong person on the inside."
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- Jake Rice, Middleton Athlete Leader
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