Special Olympics 'Young Athletes' Program Unveiled

Since its inception in 1968, Special Olympics has offered sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities who are 8 years old and older. Now, there is a program being launched statewide in Florida called Special Olympics Young Athletes that is geared to children ages 2 to 7 years old.

Special Olympics for Young Athletes - Group Photo - 16x9 Special Olympics Florida's very first Young Athletes program was unveiled on April 30th at Thornebrooke Elementary in Ocoee.

The event is both a culmination/celebratory event for the seven Young Athletes who have completed 24 skill-building training sessions, and a chance for educators, health professionals, and parents of children with special needs to learn about the program, which is offered free of charge to the Young Athletes and their families.

Special Olympics Orange County volunteers Laurie Chmielewski and Julie Billig oversee this inaugural Young Athletes program and have noticed dramatic results already: "We have athletes making sensory, visual and verbal contact with others for the very first time, after just a few weeks of involvement. The therapeutic and socialization benefits to these Yong Athletes, and their families, is critical to their early development," said Chmielewski.

The Special Olympics Young Athletes program is an innovative sports play program for children ages 2-7 with intellectual disabilities and their peers (disabled and non-disabled), designed to introduce them to the world of sports. The program was piloted at 12 sites around the world between 2005 and 2007. Special Olympics Florida launched the Program during a Training Workshop for potential trainers and sites in January of 2009 and has a goal of having 25 site programs statewide along with 50 families implementing the program in their homes.

The benefits to this program have been proven worldwide. First and foremost, these activities will help children improve physically, cognitively and socially. It also prepares children to graduate to official Special Olympics training and competition when they turn 8 years old.

The program is designed to address two specific levels of play. Level 1 includes physical activities focused on developing fundamental motor tracking and eye-hand coordination. Level 2 concentrates on the application of these physical activities through a sports skills activity program and developing skills consistent with Special Olympics sports play. The activities will consist of foundational skills, walking & running, balance & jumping, trapping & catching, throwing, striking, kicking and advanced skills.

Families and educators interested in the Young Athletes program may contact: In Orange County: Special Olympics Orange County: 407-317-3900 x4543 Elsewhere in Florida: Nancy Sawyer, Special Olympics Florida, 1-800-322-HERO