Posted: Sep 08, 2015
Special Olympics Florida Monroe County

Special Olympics Florida Monroe County provides year-round sports training and competition to 81 children and adults 8 years of age and older with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Five sports; bocce ball, cycling, stand-up paddle board, aquatics and bowling help young men and woman experience the joy of competition, the thrill of achievement and the respect of comraderie and conduct. Fifty Florida counties have Special Olympics programs. Each county program is accredited by Special Olympics Florida and is responsible for conducting sports training and competition, administrative functions, and fundraising. Participating counties are grouped into 11 service areas (Monroe is #11).  Make no mistake, training and competition for and among these athletes is intense. And yet, the goal, from sponsors, coaches, mentors and team mates, is sportsmanship. Direct and reaffirming.

Let me win, yet if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.

 

Since its beginning in 1968, Special Olympics has transformed millions of lives through the joy of sport, every day, everywhere. Special Olympics is the world’s largest sports organization for people with intellectual disabilities with 4.4 million athletes competing from 170 countries. 

 

Special Olympics Florida was founded in 1972.  Training and competition is provided to 26,000 athletes at no cost to athlete or their caregiver.  Anyone may compete as long as they meet eligibility criteria.  Best of all - there is no upper age limit.

 

Through the power of sports, people with intellectual disabilities discover new strengths and abilities, skills and success. Our athletes find joy, confidence and fulfillment – on the playing field and in life. They also inspire people in their communities and elsewhere to open their hearts to a wider world of human talents and potential.

 

And yet, Special Olympics is not just athletics.

Healthy Athlete

Healthy Community

 

The Healthy Athletes initiative provides Special Olympic athletes with free screenings for health assessment, health education, disease prevention and referral under the programs Special Smiles, Opening Eyes, Healthy Hearing, FUNfitness, Heath Promotion, Fit Feet and MedFest.

 

Healthy Community has been offering health care screenings and follow-up, quality vision, hearing and foot care, centralized tracking of health care records and access to premium health care through collaboration with community, university and hospital partners since 2012.

 

Florida is one of six states to offer the Healthy Community program. The program provides specific training to more than 16,000 health-care professionals and students.  These professionals then return to their communities with an increased knowledge of people with intellectual disabilities and a greater willingness to have them as patients.

Young Athletes Program

 

The Young Athletes Program is a sports play program for children ages 2 - 7.The program introduces children to the world of sport, allowing and encouraging them to improve fundamental physical, cognitive and social skills.  The program's flexible design allows for implementation either at school, through an organization or at home conducted by parents.

Project Unify

 

Special Olympics Project UNIFY® is an education-based project that uses sports and education programs to activate young people to develop school communities where all youth are agents of change – fostering respect, dignity and advocacy for people with intellectual disabilities.

 

Project Unify works at every school level; elementary, middle, high school and college.

Upcoming Sports Events for Special Olympics Florida Monroe County

 

Aquatics/Swimming

  • County Games at the Florida Keys Community College, Key West July 25
  • Area Games in Miami August 21 and 22, location TBD.
  • State Games October 2 - 4, location TBD.

 

Bowling

  • Practice begins at the Bowling Center (Air Lanes), Naval Air Station, Key West August 2
  • County Games September 13, location TBD.
  • State Games in Orlando November 14 - 17.

 

Cycling

  • The ReMARCable Tour DeKeys will occur September 26.  This MARC House event is a 100 mile ride from Key Large to Key West.  Special Olympics cyclists have been invited to ride from the Key West neighborhood of Key Haven to the finish line at Higgs Beach in Key West.

Stand-up Paddle Board

 

Stand-up Paddle Board (SUP) has become a BIG event!

  • Area Games are in Islamorada on August 16
  • State Games will be in Sarasota on August 29
  • Statewide Stand-up Paddleboard Invitational will be in Key West at Higgs Beach on October 17 - 18.
  • Registration for the SUP October can be made here.
  • Online donations for the SUP October Invitational can be made here.

 

Thank you Lazy Dog Paddle Shack of Key West for all your support!!

Conclusion

 

Special Olympics is part of our community.  Be a part of Special Olympics Florida Monroe County.  A coach.  A mentor.  A sponsor.  A volunteer.  A donor.  An athlete! To learn how, contact us here.  We'd love to have you.

 

You can reach us at info@specialolympicsmonroe.org.

 

Special Olympics Florida Monroe County is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Both monetary and in-kind (i.e. sports equipment) donations are tax deductible. Everything donated in Monroe County stays in Monroe County.

 

If you have any comments or questions, please contact me here.

 

Good luck.

 

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