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About Special
Olympics
Special Olympics International
is a worldwide organization founded by Mrs Eunice Shriver
(sister of late President John F Kennedy of USA) which promotes
the development of sports programs for the intellectually
disabled. It is officially recognized by the International
Olympics Committee and operates in over
150 countries.
Special Olympics Bharat, the National Program, based in
Delhi, is accredited by Special Olympics International.
It is recognized by the Govt of India, Ministry of Youth
Affairs & Sports as a National Sports Federation for
development of sports for the mentally disabled.
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| Strategic Growth Plan
Special Olympics Bharat
is currently the largest program in the Asia–Pacific
Region. It has established 26 sub-programs in 24 States
and has over 2,30,000 registered Special Athletes in its
programs In addition to this, there are thousands of specially
trained coaches, families and volunteers supporting the
program. As a part of its Strategic Growth Plan to reach
out to as many of the 30 million intellectually disabled
people in the country, Special Olympics Bharat has set a
target to register a total of 5,00,000 special athletes
by end 2007.
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The Special
Olympics Mission
To provide year-round
sports training and athletic competition in a variety of
Olympic-type sports for children and adults with 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 and other Special Olympics athletes
and the community.
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The
Special Olympics Philosophy
Special Olympics believes that -
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People
with Intellectual Disability can, with proper instruction
and encouragement, learn, enjoy, and benefit from
participation in individual and team sports. |
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Consistent training is essential
to the development of sports skills.
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Competition
among those of equal abilities is the most appropriate
means of providing incentives for personal growth.
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Sports training and competition
strengthen and benefit people with Intellectual
Disability physically, mentally, socially and
spiritually. They also help their families and
the community at large, both through participation
and observation. This philosophy is reflected
in the Special Olympics oath
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Let me win. But if I cannot win,
let me be brave in the attempt
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| CURRENT STATUS: Over*2,30,000 athletes
*21,000 Coaches * 27,000 families* 26,500 volunteers |
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| TOTAL POTENTIAL: 30 MILLION |
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Special
Olympics World Games
Special Olympics World Games are held once
in every four years. Special Olympics Bharat has been sending
teams to participate in various Sports disciplines. The
most recent World Summer Games was held at Dublin, Ireland
in 2003. The Special Olympics. Bharat delegation of 81 athletes
competed in 12 disciplines bringing home 110 medals, of
which 34 were Gold Medals, 36 Silver, and 40 Bronze. |
Award Ceremony in Dublin,2003 |
Special
Olympics Bharat also participated in the last two World
Winter Games held in Alaska, USA in 2001, and at Nagano
Japan in 2005.
For both events, a team competed in the Floor Hockey Competitions.
In the Alaska World Winter Games, the Special Olympics Bharat
Team won a Bronze Medal, and in the World Winter Games at
Nagano, Japan, the Team stood in fifth place.
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The Indian Team at the Nagano
Games
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Special
Olympics Bharat & the promotion of Cricket as a World
Game
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Special Olympics Bharat has been
the forerunner in the spread of Cricket as a Sport
for Special Olympics. Towards this direction, a
first time Asia-Pacific Cricket Tournament was organized
in 2004 by Special Olympics Bharat, at Ahmedabad,
Gujarat. In addition to 21 individual state teams
from the India programs, Special Olympics Pakistan
sent in their team of 16 athletes and 6 delegates
to participate in the tournament.
The success of this event, witnessed by officials
of Special Olympics International, delegates from
some neighboring countries, and almost 35,000 spectators
drew enormous interest from the Special Olympics
International body.
Thereafter, Special Olympics International conducted
an evaluation of the popularity of Cricket as a
Game in many of the countries in which the Program
operates. After much deliberation, it decided to
include cricket in its official list of games and
official rules for conduct, assessment etc have
been framed for the game.
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India
chosen for First ever Special Olympics International Cricket
Cup Tournament - 2006
Special Olympics International has now
decided to hold its first ever World Cup Cricket Tournament,
at Mumbai, India. This mega event is scheduled to be held
from 06 to 12 Nov 2006 at the famous Oval grounds in that
city. Already, 12 cricket loving countries have confirmed
participation in this Tournament, some of them being, Pakistan,
West Indies, England, South Africa and Australia. |
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