Every year, up to five million athletes participate in the 244 programs held in 191 different countries, this is known as the Special Olympics. The Special Olympics is a non-profit organization that focuses on their mission “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.” According to The Special Olympics Website.
Kevin Lienard; a basketball, swimming, and softball coach who has been a special olympics coach since 2012 states, “The thing I like about the community is that you never age out, so we’ve got athletes in their 50s, we’ve got athletes who are 8 years old. They are some of the most positive individuals I’ve come across.”
Many athletes who play in The Special Olympics participate in multiple sports, and enjoy interacting with the community that’s built in the process. Steven Battoe, a Special Olympic athlete who has been participating since they were 18 states, “My favorite would be basketball, because usually I create moments in basketball. In any sport I try to create moments. My second favorite sport would probably be softball.”
The feeling of community is shared between the coaches and the athletes, with this event allowing athletes to interact with people from all different demographics. “Everyone here is so great, we have our own community of coaches, parents and guardians, and athletes who all come together and use sports as a method to come together and put a smile on everyone’s faces.” Said Joey Charles, a basketball and flag football coach since 2017. “The community is so welcoming to everyone, every walk of life, every age, every gender. Everything has just been so great.
Coach Lienard stated, “I think for a lot of individuals who are not able to play mainstream sports, the Special Olympics offers an outlet to play sports for their entire lifetime. Right now we offer 20 sports.” The most popular of those being soccer.
Overall, The Special Olympics is a great place for people with disabilities to come together as a community and compete. “Do I enjoy the Special Olympics?” Battoe said. “You see how I go out there every day to compete, and give it my all? Yes I do enjoy it, a lot.”
Emilia Gomez • May 12, 2024 at 8:58 PM
Physical fitness is important, and individuals with disabilities shouldn’t be excluded from participating in sports. The inclusivity showed by the Special Olympics is truly inspiring, especially with the large age range of participants. This program gives disabled people the opportunity to have an interest in sports the same way anyone else can.
Beckett • May 10, 2024 at 11:27 PM
I LOVED this its so great to see a comuntity built off The Special Olympics its just so amazing to see this . you wrote all of this so good and very formal and you kept it short and digestibal thank you for sharing this information with me . Amazing interview by you keep it up I loved it!
Aaron • May 10, 2024 at 10:26 AM
As someone who is in sports I think everyone should be able to do something no matter what they are like and I think its great to see people not let something get in the way of wanting to enjoy a sport, I especially liked “Do I enjoy the Special Olympics?” Battoe said. “You see how I go out there every day to compete, and give it my all? Yes I do enjoy it, a lot.” because that is exactly the right attitude to have.
Jayden • May 8, 2024 at 6:29 PM
What really makes me interested in this article is how it gets really deep into detail and specific about the Olympics and it makes me very happy that someone did an article on the Olympics because not many people are into the Olympics and I’m a very competitive person and watching and rooting for a team is what I love about them and my favorite line would probably be ”The feeling of community is shared between the coaches and athletes”.