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Inspiring Greatness. See the fun and passion Special Olympics inspires in its athletes. See the video.
This past March, high school and college students in the United States took the lead on "Spread the Word to End the Word," a grass-roots effort to raise awareness of the impact of the thoughtless, hurtful use of the word "retard."
That's just one way that Special Olympics works to create a more accepting and inclusive world for everyone.
Sports Leads The Way
A unique nonprofit sports organization, Special Olympics is at the forefront of a global movement with the power to change the world, but also a powerful and life-changing personal journey for all who participate. Our mission is to provide year-round sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
Every day, people are involved with Special Olympics in more than 180 countries are helping us achieve this vision – and are finding joy, welcome and transformation in the process. 365 days a year, in every corner of the world, athletes, coaches, volunteers and youth leaders are finding that Special Olympics inspires them to be their best.
Like athlete Florence Nabayinda from Uganda. “Because of Special Olympics, I am now somebody,” she says. Abandoned at birth and discarded as trash, Special Olympics empowered her to achieve. Now she is an accomplished marathoner, a valued employee and an accepted member of her community.
Like Special Olympics coach and former Olympic athlete Cindi Hart from Indiana, USA, who knows a personal reward far greater than her own Olympics performance when she sees her athletes excel.
Like Schools and Youth participant Soeren Palumbo from Illinois, USA, a college freshman who is now a student leader and a champion for the acceptance of people with intellectual disabilities and the dignity they deserve.
And like volunteer doctor Melina Willems of Belgium, who saw the dignity of Special Olympics athletes first-hand through her work with Healthy Athletes. Now she devotes a portion of her practice to clients with intellectual disabilities, and teaches and conducts research in the field.
Special Olympics inspired all of these people, and it can inspire you, too. Special Olympics is a great way to have fun and give back; but it’s the human connections people make through Special Olympics that truly change their attitudes, open their eyes to new possibilities and transform their lives. .
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| | What YOU Can Do | |
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| | - Get in touch with Special Olympics near you to see what you can do to help.
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| | - If you're a college student, check out SO College to get active at your school.
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| | - Get in the game by joining Special Olympics Unified Sports®, where people with and without intellectual disabilities train and compete together on the same team.
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