Unified Sports is a pioneer program that combines approximately equal
numbers of athletes with and without mental retardation
Unified sports are designed to contribute further to mainstreaming (normalizing) individuals with mental retardation by bringing together athletes with mental retardation and those without on the same team as equal partners. The equality among all of the teammates is enhanced when the teammates are similar in age and ability. Care should be taken to recruit athletes without mental retardation with similar ability levels as those athletes with mental retardation who play on the team.
Unified Sports is
a unique and important program because it:
Integrates athletes with
and without mental retardation in a setting where all athletes are challenged to
improve their skills.
Provides a valuable
sports opportunity to individuals with mental retardation who are not presently
involved with Special Olympics: especially those with mild retardation, and
those in communities where there are not enough Special Olympics athletes to
conduct team sports:
Prepares athletes with
higher level skills for participation in school or community sports:
Increases public
awareness of the spirit and skills of individuals with mental retardation:
Enables Special Olympics
athletes' families to participate as team members or coaches on Unified Sports
teams:
And enables athletes to
develop friendships and an understanding of each other's capabilities through a
spirit of equality and team unity
