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Sports and training. These are the tools of success for each Special Olympics athlete. And with the addition of Unified Sports programs in 1994, Special Olympics Tennessee added an important new dimension to further aid in the inclusion of athletes into the community.
Every Special Olympics athlete is required to complete at least six weeks of training in any sport before participating in area or state competition. Training can occur with a school group, club, team, or can even be coached by a family member.
This part of our program allows us to bring together Special Olympics athletes and non-Special Olympians as teammates. A philosophy and ideal that is worthy of our attention simply for the values that it can bring to many of our athletes as well as their peers.
Unified Sports� if used properly will allow all persons with disabilities to be successfully included with their peers in every school classroom, every recreational sports league and program, every work environment and every leisure activity.
Unified Sports� has great potential. One of the goals of Special Olympics Tennessee for 2003 and 2004 is to develop a task force to enhance the role of Unified Sports� in the growth of Special Olympics Tennessee. Working together with Area Directors, training managers, coaches, school professionals, volunteers, parents, and yes...the athletes themselves, we should be able to promote positive ideas and enhance competitive opportunities for our athletes. Growth in sports offered, promotion of leisure activities within the community, as well as defining what role Unified Sports� should play in inclusion should be the final result.