Special Olympics

In looking ahead to 2007, I'd like to begin sharing some events planned by charities and other non-profits around the world. I look forward to your feedback and wish you a peaceful holiday season and blessed New Year 2007!

Special Olympics headquartered in Washinton, D.C., is a worldwide movement active in 150 countries, that strives to empower individual persons with intellectual disabilities.

The mission of Special Olympics includes helping their athletes get involved in training and athletic competition thereby ensuring they will be productive and progressive members of society and not demoralized by the stigma often placed on them as a result of their status.

The Movement includes the participation of 500,000 volunteers, 140,000 coaches and more than 20,000 competitors worldwide. I believe these outstanding numbers are growing as the Movement grows.

Some of the Special Olympics initiatives include, Special Olympics Athlete Leadership Program offering athletes the opportunity to serve on the Board of Directors, coach, get involved in the decision making process regarding programs, and officiate at events.

In addition, Special Olympics Unified Sports offers a collaboration between athletes with intellectual diabilities and those without to participate on the same athletic team.

In October 2007, the Special Olympics World Summer Games will be held in Shanghai, China from Oct. 10-19th 2007.

Here is a sampling of the 20 different sports competitors will be engaging in during the event:

Aquatics

Athletics

Badminton

Baseball

Basketball

Bocce

Bowling

Cycling

Equestrian

Football (Soccer)

Golf

Gymnastics

Handball

Judo

Powerlifting

Roller skating

Sailing

Table Tennis

Tennis and volleyball

For more information, volunteer oportunities, sponsoring and fundraising visit: http://www.specialolympics.org






Jackie O'Neal
http://nbbta.org/radio O'Neal and Company