"I play my best and feel like I am a star. My team won a gold medal at the Summer Games and I felt like an athlete in the real Olympics when I was up on the podium. I love all my medals and display them in my room. I am so happy we found Special Olympics and I thank my coaches and all the other volunteers who made this magic happen for me."
- Abby Snyder, Quinebaug Valley Special Olympics athlete
- Abby Snyder, Quinebaug Valley Special Olympics athlete
What is Special Olympics?
Special Olympics is the world's largest program of sports training and competition for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Participation is open to all eight years and older. Since 1969, Special Olympics Connecticut (SOCT) has provided year-round sports training and athletic competition and presently serves 8,984 athletes and partners throughout the state through local, regional and state programs.
SOCT provides a variety of programs including: the United Sports Program (which combines athletes with and without intellectual disabilities on the same teams to compete in a variety of sports, the CIAC/CAS partnership which brings Special Olympics into the Connecticut School system, the Masters Sports Program designed for athletes 40 and older, and an Officials Program where people with intellectual disabilities become certified sports officials through mentor training.
SOCT provides a variety of programs including: the United Sports Program (which combines athletes with and without intellectual disabilities on the same teams to compete in a variety of sports, the CIAC/CAS partnership which brings Special Olympics into the Connecticut School system, the Masters Sports Program designed for athletes 40 and older, and an Officials Program where people with intellectual disabilities become certified sports officials through mentor training.
What is Unified Sports?
Unified Sports promotes integration and inclusion. Simply defined, Unified Sports is a team sports program where there are an equal number of Special Olympics eligible athletes playing on the same team with an equal number of non-disabled Special partners. These teams practice and compete against other unified teams of the same ability level.
What sports are offered in Connecticut?
Connecticut presently hosts 4 state tournaments throughout the year. The sports offered are:
Summer Games - aquatics, athletics, cycling, gymnastics, soccer, tennis
Fall Sports Festival - softball, golf, bocce, sailing
Holiday Sports Classic - basketball, volleyball, bowling, power lifting
Winter Games - alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, speed skating, figure skating,
floor hockey, snowshoeing
Summer Games - aquatics, athletics, cycling, gymnastics, soccer, tennis
Fall Sports Festival - softball, golf, bocce, sailing
Holiday Sports Classic - basketball, volleyball, bowling, power lifting
Winter Games - alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, speed skating, figure skating,
floor hockey, snowshoeing
How do I contact Special Olympics Connecticut?
Special Olympics Cpnnecticut
2666-1 State Street
Hamden, CT 06517-2232
(800)443-6105 or (203)230-1201
www.soct.org
2666-1 State Street
Hamden, CT 06517-2232
(800)443-6105 or (203)230-1201
www.soct.org