Jason CornwellFootball and Unified Sports® Manager

The Olympic Family3 Members

The Olympics – Governed by IOC

• Elite Athletes

• Summer and Winter Sports

• Competition every 2 Years

• Centrally Funded

• Motto: Fastest, Highest, Strongest

The Paralympics – Governed by IOC

• Elite Athletes with Physical or Sensory Disability

• Summer and Winter Sports

• Competition every 2 Years + Some World Cup Events (not all sports)

• Centrally Funded

• Motto: Spirit in Motion from 2004 (Previously Mind, Body Spirit)

The Olympics Family3 Members

Special Olympics - Governed by Special Olympics International (SOI)

• Athletes of All Ages and Abilities with a Learning Disability

• Summer and Winter Sports

• Year Round Training Programme

• Regional, National European Competition

• World Games Every 2 Years

• Currently Self Funding (GB)

• 1988 Officially Recognised by IOC

• Oath: Let Me Win But If I Cannot Win Let Me Be Brave In The Attempt

Special Olympics

• Not the Paralympics

• International Organisation formed in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy-Shriver• Over 170 Countries

• More than 3.4 million athletes

• Special Olympics GB formed in 1978• 8000 athletes

• 2600 volunteers

• 135 groups

• 19 regions

Mission

“to provide year-round sports training and competition in a variety of

Olympic-type sports for children and adults with a learning 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, other Special Olympics

athletes and the community”

Athlete centred programme

Special Olympics Great BritainStructure

SOGB Head Office

19 Regions10 England, 8 Scotland, 1 Wales

Accredited Groups135

Athletes8000

Eligibility

• Athletes must have a learning disability

• Over 8 years old for competition

• Over 6 for training

• No maximum age limit

Learning Disability

• Prior to birth or at birth – e.g Downs Syndrome

• People with severe or profound learning disability are more likely to noticed at a younger age as having a learning disability than those with mild to moderate learning disability

• Learning disability is MOST often diagnosed in early childhood

What is not a Learning Disability

• Dyslexia

• Dyspraxia - Developmental Coordination Disorder

• Attention Deficit Disorder

• Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder

• Asperger’s Syndrome

• Challenging Behaviour

• Similarly people with a physical or sensory impairment do not qualify as having a learning disability unless they also have a learning disability

• Some people can have a learning disability as well as other disabilities

Sports

• Builds confidence, skill and determination

• Training enhances focus and teaches participants important lessons about perseverance, endurance and setting goals.

• Athletes - participation also provides a gateway to empowerment, competence, acceptance and joy.

Sports

*These sports are classified as ‘nationally popular’ and there are currently no international competition opportunities within Special Olympics.

Alpine Skiing Aquatics Athletics

Badminton Basketball Bocce

Boccia* Bowling Bowls*

Cricket Cycling Equestrian

Floorball Football Golf

Gymnastics Artistic Gymnastics Rhythmic Judo

Kayaking Motor Activities Training Programme

Netball*

New-Age Kurling* Powerlifting Sailing

Table Tennis Ten-Pin Bowling Tennis

Training and Competition

• Must be regular

• Local, Regional, National, International

• All ability levels

• Divisioned competition

Unified Sports – What are they?

• Unified definition: “to become a single unit”

• Players with and without learning disabilities, playing together

• Team sports

Unified Sports – Why?

• Break down social barriers

• Raise awareness of what learning disability IS and IS NOT

• Inclusion and Integration

• Just like everyone else!

• More competition

Unified SportsTeam Composition

• Athletes – with learning disabilities

• Unified Partners – without learning disabilities

• Male or female teams

• Similar ability and age

• Coaches are coaches, not players

Unified Sports TeamsAbility Matching

Athletes and Unified Partners:

Why is it important for them to play at the same ability level?

Why is it important to have them BOTH playing at the best of their ability?

Practical exercise – paper planes

Answer above questions

Ability Matching – Why?

• Encourage social interaction

• Enable team work

• Encourage meaningful competition

Unified Sports launch video

Unified Sports – Quotes

Athlete:

‘I can play football and with everyone, I feel comfortable as well as part of a team. I feel equal with all the players, partners or not.’

Unified Partner:

‘I enjoy being part of a team with disabled and mainstream players. We play together as a team and we are friends not just team mates.’