Unified Sports
Special Olympics Unified Sports is an initiative that combines approximately equal numbers of Special Olympics athletes and athletes without intellectual disabilities (called partners) on sports teams for training and competition. Age and ability matching of athletes and partners is defined on a sport-by-sport basis.
Unified Sports programs currently exist for the following sports: basketball, bowling, volleyball, golf, softball, volleyball and more. The program provides a wonderful opportunity for the Special Olympics athletes and their partners to develop a better understanding and respect for one another's abilities and limitations.
Unified Sports allow athletes to improve their physical fitness, sharpen their skills, and challenge the competition while having fun at the same time. Both the athletes and their partners come away from these events with a deep sense of pride and support for one another. More than 1,300 individuals participate in Special Olympics Iowa Unified Sports events each year. Currently, Unified Sports Golf Tournaments are held in the following communities: Akron, Cedar Rapids, Davenport, Des Moines (Jester Park), Marshalltown, Muscatine, Spencer and Waterloo. Unified Sports Days are held at Wartburg College (Waverly), Cornell College (Mount Vernon), Grinnell College (Grinnell), and Drake University (Des Moines).
Unified Sports enables athletes to:
- learn new sports while developing higher level sports skills
- have new competition experiences
- experience meaningful inclusion as each athlete is ensured of playing a valued role on the team
- socialize with peers and form friendships
- the initiative provides a forum for positive social interaction between teammates and often leads to long lasting friendships
- Unified Sports programs often are initiated by community partners, including parks and recreation departments, schools, Boys and Girls Clubs of America and community sports organizations. These partnerships help further include athletes in their community.
For upcoming Unified Sports events, please check our calendar by clicking here.
For additional information or to learn more about participating in a Unified Sports Day, please contact Kathy Irving at kirving@soiowa.org or 515-986-5520.
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