| What is Special Olympics Alachua? Special Olympics Alachua provides year-round sports training and competition. Children and adults with intellectual disabilities, at NO cost to the athlete or their caregiver, as a means to achieve physical fitness, self-esteem and the life skills necessary to be productive, respected and contributing members of their communities. Activities exist for those of all ability levels, from the highly functioning to the severely challenged. Anyone may participate in Special Olympics if they meet the eligibility criteria of having an intellectual disability or a similar developmental disability and are 8 years of age or older. There is no upper age limit for participation. Training: Special Olympics Alachua is founded on the philosophy that quality training is crucial to success in sports. Comprehensive year-round training and competition is available to every athlete, conducted by dedicated volunteer coaches. We offer training and competition in 20 different team and individual sports. These athletes are trained by 5,000 volunteer coaches, and are supported and encouraged by more than 18,000 event volunteers statewide. At the grassroots level, Special Olympics Florida has over 900 local, registered training programs within 11 geographic service areas. Games: Special Olympics Alachua offers ongoing training and sports competitions held at each organizational level, culminating in State Games. The State Games feature Opening and Closing Ceremonies, the lighting of the Special Olympics “Flame of Hope,” awards ceremonies and a variety of social activities that are modeled after the Olympic Games. Over 200 county, area and state level games and tournaments are held each year in communities throughout the state. Sports: Official Fall Sports: Bowling, Softball, Powerlifting, Gymnastics and Roller Skating Official Summer Sports Athletics, Bocce, Cycling, MATP*, Football (soccer), Tennis, Volleyball Tournaments: Aquatics, Basketball, Equestrian Sports, Golf, Skiing Funding: Special Olympics athletes are given opportunities to participate without regard to economic, demographic, religious, or social factors. Neither athletes nor parents are charged a fee to participate in the program. This is crucial, as many of our participants live at or below the poverty level. We rely upon the generosity of individual and corporate contributions. Special Olympics Florida is a registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. |
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| Sports Offered at County or Area Level Only: *Non-competitive Motor Activities Training Program for athletes with profound challenges. Healthy Athletes: Healthy Athletes is designed to help Special Olympics athletes improve their health and fitness and their ability to train and compete in Special Olympics, through the provision of free health screenings and referral where necessary. Special Olympics Healthy Athletes provides health assessment, health education, and disease prevention and, in some cases, corrective health care for Special Olympics athletes. Disciplines: Special Olympics Special Smiles®, Special Olympics-Lions Clubs International Opening Eyes®, Special Olympics Healthy Hearing, Special Olympics FUNfitness, Special Olympics Health Promotion, Special Olympics Fit Feet and Special Olympics MedFest. ALPs: Athlete Leadership Programs (ALPs) allow athletes to explore opportunities for Special Olympics participation in roles previously considered “non-traditional.” Our athletes are serving as board members, staff members, local/area committee members, officials, assistant coaches, volunteers, and much more! One such opportunity is being a Global Messenger: a self-advocacy program where athletes are trained in public speaking and raise public awareness about Special Olympics. Young Athletes: Is an innovative sports play program for children ages 2-7 with intellectual disabilities and their peers, designed to introduce them to the world of sports. Activities will help children improve cognitively, physically and socially. It helps develop motor tracking and eye-hand coordination and fundamental skills such as walking jumping catching throwing. It prepares children to graduate to official Special Olympics training and competition when they turn 8 years old. |
Never Forgotten Angela From St. Petersburg Fl. She Was on Pinellas Storm Special Olympics team for 8 years. Moved to Gainesville 2006 due to illness acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Angela fought over three years. Angela passed away September 21, 2009. she was 20 years old. her love was special olympics and was always proud no matter how she did. 8/10/89 - 09/21/2009 |
