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A Special Olympic athlete celebrates - Source: Penny Towns/Inspire Photography
One of the cornerstones of the Special Olympics programme is
that all athletes compete in meaningful competitions.
As a means of providing this opportunity athletes across all sports
compete against other athletes who are of a similar ability.
A time, distance or score basis of 10-15% difference is used to
grade athletes into divisions.
Athletes compete on the first days of competition in heats and
divisions and then on the day of their finals they all compete
again for final placing and awards.
In mainstream sports competitions there may be 15 heats leading to
one final, in Special Olympics competitions there may be 15 heats
and then 15 finals of any one of the disciplines.
A division has no less than three people and no more than
eight.
All athletes or teams in a final receive an award for their
placings. Gold, silver and bronze medals are awarded to 1st, 2nd
and 3rd respectively and ribbons awarded to 4th to 8th place
winners.
Aquatics (Swimming)
Swimmers compete in three events depending on swimming and/or
developmental ability. Strokes include freestyle, butterfly,
breaststroke, backstroke and relays. Floatation and walking
competitions are also offered.
Athletics (Track & Field)
Athletes may enter three individual events (two track and one field
or vice versa) plus a relay.
Events offered range from a 50 metre walk, softball throw, and
standing long jump for athletes of lower ability athletes; events
range through to a 10,000 meter run for those of higher
ability.
Relay races are also offered.
Basketball
The events offered are basketball skills - team competition (BSAT)
and a team competition that is played in a Round Robin format based
on equitable ability divisions following grading games for
teams.
Full sized courts and balls are used.
Bocce (similar to petanque)
Bocce is being played in an indoor stadium which holds 10
competition sized courts (18m long x 3.5m wide).
Athletes will compete in Doubles and Fours competition
Full size tournament balls will also be used.
Bowling (Ten pin bowling)
The events offered will be doubles and team competition (four
players per team).
Equestrian
All equestrian riders compete in three disciplines, Working Trail,
English Equitation and Dressage competition.
While some riders may require out-walkers (support people walking
alongside them) others will ride independent of any support.
Football
The events offered are football skills - team competition (SAT),
football skills - individual competition, and a team competition
and five-a-side game.
Full sized balls will be used and games will be played on a
five-a-side sized pitch.
Golf
Athletes can compete in only one of the three events that are
offered at these games
Individual skills contest, primarily for lower ability/new
golfers
Individual stroke play competition (9 holes).
Individual stroke play competition (18 holes)
Usual rules of golf will apply to the 9 and 18 hole
competitions
Indoor bowls
Full sized mats and bowls will be used in this competition.
Players may enter one or two events for the B and C grades or 3
events for the A grade.
A bowler's grade is determined by the level or amount of support
they need to play the game of bowls.
Powerlifting
Athletes can compete in any number of the individual
events offered: Squat, Bench Press and Deadlift.
Other information
Athletes can also enter one of the combined events based upon the
individual events the athlete has competed in; either the Combined
Bench Press and Deadlift or the Combined Squat, Bench Press and
Deadlift.
Each sport also offers a range of events to challenge all athletes of all abilities.
These range from "developmental" events being offered to lower ability athletes through to longer distances or more complicated disciplines for higher ability athletes.
In some sports skills tests are also offered as well as playing in full game situations (such as in basketball and football).
Technical sports rules for each sport are based on the rules of the international governing bodies.
Most sports will have qualified technical people officiating.
