Special Olympics Washington

Persons with intellectual disabilities, regardless of ability level, may participate in sports and other programs offered by Special Olympics Washington. Individuals are eligible for training and competition at age eight and there is no upper age limit. More than 14,000 athletes participate in sowa activities, over 4.5 million athletes compete in Special Olympics programs in 180 countries. *unified sports - athletes with intellectual disabilities pair with persons without disabilities and form teams for training and competition. Unified sports integrates Special Olympics athletes with other athletes to build self-esteem and increase understanding of persons with different abilities. Unified sports is dedicated to promoting social inclusion through shared sports training and competition experiences, unified sports joins people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team. It was inspired by a simple principle: training together and playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding. *healthy athletes - Special Olympics athletes are provided opportunities to improve health and fitness through dental, vision, feet, hearing and general health screenings such as: funfitness, health promotion, medfest & strong minds. Physicians and healthcare professionals provide these services at no cost to Special Olympics athletes at tournaments. Also: by focusing on wellness opportunities, follow-up care, access and education, sowa and its partners are creating communities where athletes have every opportunity to reach their optimal health to perform at their best on the competition field.special Olympics Washington athletes and teams can take the next steps to becoming healthier and improving their athletic performance through three healthy communities programs: fit 5, sofit & teambuildr. *sports - winter season & winter games - alpine skiing, basketball, cheerleading,cross country skiing, figure & speed skating, snowboarding, snowshoeing. Spring season & spring games - athletics (track & field), ball room dancing (demo), equestrian (demo), long distance running/walking, cycling, powerlifting, soccer, swimming. Summer season & summer games bocce, golf, softball, stand up paddle boarding. Fall season & fall games artistic gymnastics, bowling, flag football, volleyball. *young athletes - an innovative sports play program, designed for early childhood intervention, seeks to strengthen self-esteem and physical development for children with id ages 2-7 years old. *athlete leadership program - athletes are provided the opportunity to expand personal growth by acting as spokespersons, team captains, coaches, officials or by representation on the Special Olympics Washington board of directors. *unified champion schools - the Special Olympics unified champion schools program, formerly known as project unify, is aimed at promoting social inclusion through intentionally planned and implemented activities affecting systems-wide change. With sports as the foundation, the three component model offers a unique combination of effective activities that equip young people with tools and training to create sports, classroom and school climates of acceptance. These are school climates where students with disabilities feel welcome and are routinely included in, and feel a part of, all activities, opportunities and functions.