Unified Sports®
Unified Sports allows athletes with and without cognitive disabilities to compete together.
INTRODUCTION:
Special Olympics Unified Sports® is an additional means for carrying out and
fulfilling the mission of Special Olympics: To provide year-round sports training
and athlete competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children 8 years
of age and older, as well as adults with cognitive 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. The Special Olympics
athlete is all-important to the mission and experiencing new, varied, integrated
and more challenging levels of athletic achievement and opportunity, e.g., Unified
Sports®, is crucial in the continuing evolution of Special Olympics athletes
in communities throughout the world.
Unified Sports® is a program endorsed and developed by Special Olympics Inc. Unified Sports® presently includes Basketball, Bowling, Cycling, Distance Running, Soccer, Tennis and Volleyball with several other sports undergoing field tests in numerous states and countries. At this point in development, Unified Sports® has an estimated 50,000 athletes now participating worldwide in cooperation with schools, civic associations, Parks and Recreation departments and other community sports organizations.
DEFINITION OF UNIFIED SPORTS®:
Unified Sports® is a program that combines approximately equal numbers
of Special Olympics athletes with peer athletes without cognitive disabilities
on sports teams for training and competition. Furthermore, all players (Athletes
and Special Partners*) are of similar age and ability. Athletes in this program
need to have the necessary skill level to participate in the sport so they can
be appropriately matched with their Special Partners.
Unified Sports® is an important program because it expands sports opportunities for athletes seeking new challenges. In addition, Unified Sports® dramatically increases inclusion in the community by helping to break down the barriers that have historically kept people with and without cognitive disabilities apart. At the same time, Unified Sports® provides a valuable sports opportunity to individuals with cognitive disabilities who are not presently involved with Special Olympics. This is especially true for those with mild retardation and for those in communities where there are not enough Special Olympics athletes to conduct team sports.
Unified Sports® has become an important addition to the overall Special Olympics program and has helped further reach its mission.
*Descriptors like Special Athletes (athletes with cognitive disabilities ) and Special Partners (athletes without cognitive disabilities ) are sometimes necessary to differentiate the two groups in Special Olympics literature; however, Unified Sports® program leaders are encouraged to refer to all athletes as teammates.
SUMMARY:
Special Olympics Wisconsin is eager to work closely with Agencies throughout
the state to foster development of Unified Sports®. An important component of
support will be to identify the organizations that are interested in the start-up
of Unified Sports® programs. If you wish to become involved, e-mail bwhitehead@specialolympicswisconsin.org.
SOWI joins numerous other states and countries in the efforts to offer an additional
way to challenge existing Special Olympics athletes, recruit more Special Olympics
athletes and to welcome community peer athletes into Unified Sports®. These
efforts will create a unique and mainstreamed level of sports competition. Please
join us in these efforts!