Fact Sheet
Mission -- Special Olympics Pennsylvania (SOPA), a chapter of
Special Olympics Inc., provides year-round athletic training and
athletic competition in 23 Olympic-type sports for individuals with
intellectual disabilities and provides them with continuing opportunities to
develop physical fitness skills, express courage, experience joy, and
participate in the sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their
families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community.
Athletes -- More than 18,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities and closely related developmental disabilities participate
in over 300 local, sectional, and state events. Athletes range in age
from 8 to 80 and are of all ability levels.
Volunteers -- Nearly 46,000 volunteers provided the
manpower for SOPA last year. Volunteers of all ages serve as coaches,
escorts, organizers, fund-raisers, entertainers, or sports officials.
Volunteers are always needed!
Competitions -- SOPA competitions are offered year-round in 56
local programs across Pennsylvania. SOPA conducts four statewide
competitions: Winter Games, The State Floor Hockey Tournament, Summer Games, and Fall Festival Games.
Sports -- SOPA offers training and competition in the following
events:
- alpine skiing
- aquatics
- athletics
- basketball
- bocce
- bowling
- cross-country skiing
- cycling
- distance running
- equestrian sports
- figure skating
- floor hockey
- golf
- gymnastics
- powerlifting
- roller hockey
- roller skating
- soccer
- softball
- speed skating
- tennis
- Unified Sports
- volleyball
Benefits -- A 1995 study by
Yale University confirmed that Special Olympics contributes to the
physical, social, and psychological development of people with mental
retardation. Through successful experiences in sports, they gain
confidence and build a positive self-image that carries over into the
classroom, the home, the job, and the community.
Funding -- SOPA is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization that
raises the funds through the generosity of individuals, companies, and
foundations. |
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