Special Olympics Great Britain Introduction
Great Britain
Click here to watch a short video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FovXA-vdxPU
Special Olympics • An all ability coaching and competition programme for athletes with an intellectual (learning) disability • A competition pathway: local – regional – national international
• Founded in 1968 in the USA by Eunice Kennedy Shriver • 200 Countries and 4.2 million athletes worldwide
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Special Olympics Mission “to provide year-round sports training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with an intellectual disability, 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�
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Special Olympics Great Britain • Established in 1978 • A network of 150 clubs across GB • 8,000 athletes countrywide • 4,000 volunteers • Year-round sports coaching and competition • All ages (competition for ages 8 upwards) • All abilities – Non-elite (Olympics and Paralympics) • Athlete-centred programme 5
Current Sports Provided Alpine Skiing
Aquatics (Swimming)
Athletics
Badminton
Basketball
Bocce
Boccia*
Bowls*
Cricket
Cycling
Equestrian
Figure Skating
Floorball
Football
Golf
Gymnastics (Artistic)
Gymnastics (Rhythmic)
Judo
Kayaking
Motor Activities Training Programme®
Netball*
New Age Kurling*
Powerlifting
Sailing
Speed Skating
Table Tennis
Ten Pin Bowling
Tennis * These sports are classified as ‘nationally popular’ as there are currently no international competition opportunities within Special Olympics. 6
Intellectual Disabilities •
Estimated 1.3 million people in the Country and growing
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life long
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Often live isolated lives
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Perceived in a negative way by other people
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Can find it hard to make friends, often have lower levels of confidence
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Can be overweight and have shorter life expectancies
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Are less supported to find activities they are interested in
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Tackling Isolation •
Local sports coaching to encourage healthy and active lifestyles
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Regular sports coaching and social events to
encourage friendships and build confidence •
Engaging wider community into clubs to change perception, support families & engage younger
members •
Unified Sports – involving mainstream part of sport directly into our “hard to reach” audience
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Motor Activities Training Programme (MATP) – for athletes with physical and multiple impairments
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Setting targets •
all abilities
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all ages
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all levels
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all year-round
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Partnerships
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Access networks
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Share best practice and contacts
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More opportunities for athletes and volunteers
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Increased awareness of objectives
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Increased potential for funding
Expectations •
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Accredit to Special Olympics GB through selected pathway •
Accredited Delivery Network
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Accredited stand-alone club
Clubs provide local, regular, year-round sports coaching opportunities
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Clubs enter and host competitions
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Special Olympics GB supports network, provides information, resources and occasional funding
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Click here to watch a short video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nw-gfnqkqZE
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Getting Involved •
Guidance from Special Olympics GB
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Join accredited Special Olympics activity OR create new accredited activity
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Get involved in events
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Benefit from continued support
Contacts
www.specialolympicsgb.org.uk
Laura Davies Partnership Manager partnership.manager@sogb.org.uk
Jason Cornwell Programme Development Manager jason.cornwell@sogb.org.uk
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