Special Olympics Research Paper

Everyone should have a chance to participate in sports or activities that they want to pursue. Nobody should be told they cannot do something just because they have problems unlike others, or a certain disability. The common idea of sports may be Friday night football games for a local high school team, or a tee ball game with young, elementary school children. Most people do not realize that there are a wide variety of different sports and activities that everyone can enjoy. People who might not be able to participate in the ideal sports teams have a chance to join a special team and compete with people like them. “Special Olympics has made a significant difference in the lives of thousands of athletes. It has given them an opportunity to …show more content…
The athletes are the main part because this whole event was created just for them. “The Special Olympics has been a format that has demonstrated the skill, courage, and athletic ability of these athletes” (Chicago Tribune). What was said here is very much true, the Special Olympics are centered around helping those with intellectual disabilities to learn not only sports, but skills they will use in everyday life. This can go as far as communication and getting to learn and talk to new people, motivation which can be put in task throughout the day, and even confidence that they may be lacking, but will soon gain as they win a medal or ribbon from competing or placing in certain events. Being a Special Olympics athlete is a lot of work. Some people think that there is one day for the events and races, and everyone that would want to compete will just show up. However, these people are terribly wrong. “Athletes who participate in the Special Olympics train just as hard and are just as dedicated as any other athlete. They spend many hours each week practicing in gyms or at local pools” (The Special Olympics). This just goes to show that the athletes seen taking place in events on the day a Special Olympics is held have practiced for many weeks, or even months before. These athletes have pushed themselves to the max, sweated, and worked hard in order to be the best they can be. “The skills and confidence an athlete learns through sports have a long lasting effect. They can help an athlete succeed in school, or even find a job” (Special Olympics). This is true, being involved in the Special Olympics as an athlete can motivate that athlete to want to continue to get the same feeling of accomplishment from other things just like school, or work. This feeling of accomplishment and knowing they are doing something worth praise could even make the athletes