Mission/Goals

BEN LANGE
Staff Writer

The Special Olympics is an international non-profit organization that is dedicated to the empowerment of individuals with intellectual disabilities and is fully invested in seeing that the athletes are physically fit, productive and respected members of society. The Special Olympics’ mission is to give all competitors year-round training along with athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports to children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Another important part of their mission is to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, along with skills and friendship with their loved ones.

The current goals of the Special Olympics are to achieve high quality growth by creating innovative opportunities to those who wish to participate. The committee in charge also wishes to create positive attitudes for the 190 million people with intellectual disabilities. Promotion of athletic leadership and the empowerment of dignity is also a very sought after goal. Lastly, the Special Olympics hopes to change negative attitudes and misconceptions about people with intellectual disabilities by replacing stigma and rejection with an emphasis on potential, ability and acceptance.