Officials: the Key to Quality Competition An official at the 2005 Special Olympics World Games in Nagano, Japan makes a call on the floor hockey rink. [Photo by Wataru Abe/PHOTO KISHIMOTO] Volunteer Sports Officials Needed for 2009 World Games ... Learn more   Sport officials complete the third component necessary for sporting competition — athletes, spectators and officials. Officials ensure adherence to the rules and safe competition, and are necessary to ensure the integrity of the sport. At the opening of a Special Olympics competition, officials (or an individual representing all) takes the following Official's Oath: "In the name of all judges and officials, I promise that we shall officiate in the [name of Games / Tournament / Competition inserted here] with complete impartiality, respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them, in the spirit of sportsmanship." Special Olympics encourages all persons officiating Special Olympics competitions to become certified in their sport and provides an opportunity for anyone interested, including Special Olympics athletes (see Special Olympics Officials Program for Athletes, to become a certified Special Olympics sport-specific official. There are two ways to do become certified: Track 1 — Persons with sport-specific officiating certification(s), and no Special Olympics experience Track 2 — Persons with neither sport-specific officiating certification(s), nor Special Olympics experience < Learn more about the Officials Certification Process > To locate an Officials Training Workshop near you, please use our Program Locator and contact your local Special Olympics Program.