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Special Olympics International
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Overview
Special Olympics International (SOI) was formed
by Eunice Kennedy Shriver to give athletes with mental retardation the opportunity to participate
in sports and physical activity. Mrs. Shriver believes that persons with
mental retardation (including her sister Rosemary) have a right to
participate in the mainstream of American life, including sports and
recreation activities. The first
Special Olympics camp was held in 1963; however, it was not until 1968 that SOI became an official
organization. Currently there are accredited SOI programs in more than 140 countries and
in all 50 states.
Eligibility
Participants must be at least 8 years of age and must have mental retardation or other
significant cognitive delays. According to the American Association of Mental Retardation,
mental retardation is defined as:
 | IQ less than 70-75 |
| Significant limitations in two of the following adaptive skill areas: communication,
self-care, home living, social skills, leisure, health and safety, self-direction,
functional academics, community use, and work |
| These conditions must be present in the athlete prior to the age of 18 |
Classification
Athletes are classified for competition on the basis of ability using the
"10% rule" in which the difference between the highest and lowest
score/performance for athletes within an individual event may not exceed
10%. The classification process is called "divisioning"
in the SOI rules.
Age/Gender Groups
Age groups for individual events are 8-11,
12-15, 16-21, 22-29, and 30 and older. Age groups for team sports are 15 and
younger, 16-21, and 22 and older. Separate events are held for males and
females in most sports.
Sports
SOI offers programs in a variety of summer and winter sports, as well as
a program for novice athletes, and an inclusive sports program for more
advanced athletes.
| Summer sports include athletics, badminton, basketball, bocce,
bowling, cycling, equestrian, golf, gymnastics, powerlifting,
rollerskating, sailing, soccer, softball,
swimming, table tennis, team handball, tennis,
and volleyball. |
| Winter sports include cross country skiing,
downhill skiing, figure skating, floor hockey, and speed skating. |
| SOI also conducts a Motor Activities Training Program (MATP) designed
to help beginning athletes develop the skills needed for participation in
the above sports. |
| The SOI Unified Sports Program, conducted in all 22 official sports,
pairs of athletes with and without mental
retardation on inclusive sports teams for training and competition. |
Major Competitions
The major competitions for SOI athletes are the
quadrennial summer and winter Special Olympics World Games, held in the
years preceding Olympic Games. Local/area and state-level competitions are held annually in most areas.
Athletes at these competitions abide by the SOI oath, which states, "Let
me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in my attempt."
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