About
Special Olympics Florida: A Closer Look
Mission MissionThe mission of Special Olympics Florida is to provide year-round sports training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for people with intellectual disabilities who wish to participate, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community.
HistoryThe concept of Special Olympics began in the early 1960s when Eunice Kennedy Shriver started a day camp in her own backyard for people with intellectual disabilities (mental retardation. From that experience, it was clear that these individuals were far more capable in sports and physical activities than many experts believed. Special Olympics is a worldwide movement where one can act locally, but make a global impact. In 2006, with over 30,000 competitions around the world, with training taking place every day, with family leaders, athlete leaders and volunteers extending our message every day, Special Olympics is no longer just an event. We are a movement, inviting the world not just to attend Games but to think, feel, and act differently about everything - come help create a world of acceptance and inclusion for all.
Population ServedSpecial Olympics Florida serves 15,000 athletes and offers competition in 20 different team and individual sports. These athletes are trained by 4,000 volunteer coaches, and are supported and encouraged by more than 18,000 event volunteers statewide. At the grassroots level, Special Olympics Florida has over 900 local, registered training programs within 11 geographic service areas.
Ongoing ProgramsSpecial Olympics Florida currently operates year-round programs in 51 of Florida's 67 counties. There are over 250 training sessions and competitions offered annually for athletes, coaches, and volunteers.
Improved Quality of LifeOnce ignored and neglected, hidden at home, or isolated from the community in institutions, people with intellectual disabilities have gained respect and acceptance through Special Olympics. To every athlete involved, the program provides a lifetime of active participation in sports and an opportunity to become contributing and accepted members of society. To their families, it is a symbol of hope. To volunteers and to the public, Special Olympics offers an experience that uplifts the spirit and touches the heart.
Services and ProgramsSpecial Olympics Florida provides a variety of athlete and volunteer leadership programs. These programs include:
FamiliesOver and over, parents tell of the isolation they felt upon learning that their child had an intellectual disability. Then they explain how Special Olympics Florida delivered hope, a place to belong, and a sense of community. In Special Olympics, family members gain a support network of people with similar concerns, questions, and life experiences; help finding medical expertise and community resources; and a place of acceptance, respect, and belonging. Through their participation in Special Olympics, athletes form better and stronger core relationships, and parents and siblings see firsthand the unique talents and skills of their loved ones.
VolunteersVolunteers are the backbone of the Special Olympics movement, and the program would not exist, succeed, and continue to grow without the efforts of well-trained volunteers. Of the more than 250 competitions and sports training sessions held annually, less than 1% of the people who manage and run these events are paid to do so. Currently, there are more than 10,000 Floridians who are registered volunteers for Special Olympics, and thousands more assist with the management of competitions and training sessions.
CoachingCoaches have the greatest opportunity to create positive change in Special Olympics athletes because they are the ones who work with the athletes on a consistent basis. Good coaches know that learning to play a sport is more than just mastering athletic skills - it takes teamwork, commitment, sacrifice, and dedication. These are qualities that Special Olympics coaches work to instill in their athletes, with the understanding that these lessons can have a positive impact on the athletes' lives outside of sports.
Impact
State Level CommitteesHere are just a few of the state-level committees that work year-round to enhance Special Olympics Florida. Games Evaluation Committee |
