Athletes Compete in "Shoot For The Stars"

Area athletes participated in a Basketball Skills Competition at Special Olympics of Carteret County Games held at West Carteret High School (WCHS) on Friday, January 11, 2008. Individual skills competitions included Target Pass, Ten-Meter Dribble, Speed Dribble, Spot Shot and Lowered Basket. Scores from the events were compiled to give each athlete a total score for the competition. Place awards were given based on the total scores.

WCHS Division 1 Winners

WCHS Division 2 Winners

WCHS Division 3 Winners

Special Olympics of Carteret County is an accredited subprogram of Special Olympics North Carolina Inc., offering year-round sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. These athletes inspire greatness through their success and provide motivation to many coaches, sports officials, local program committee members and other supporters involved in Special Olympics.

If you would like to find out more about participating, coaching or volunteering for Special Olympics of Carteret County, contact Carteret County Parks & Recreation at 252-808-4067

Spring Sports Offered

• Softball Throw
• Running Long Jump
• Standing Long Jum
• 25M Walk
• 25M Run

Fall Sports Offered

• Bocce
• Soccer Skills

Winter Sports Offered

• Basketball Skills
• Bowling

Special Olympics of Carteret County News

Forms

• Application for Participation
• Official Special Olympics Release Form

What is Special Olympics?
Special Olympics is an international program of year-round sports training and athletic competition for more than one million children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

Our Leaders Are . Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Founder and Honorary Chairman, and Sargent Shriver, Chairman of the Board.

Our Mission Is . to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for individuals with intellectual disabilities by giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

Our Goal Is . for all persons with intellectual disabilities to have the chance to become useful and productive citizens who are accepted and respected in their communities.

The Benefits . of participation in Special Olympics for people with intellectual disabilities include improved physical fitness and motor skills, greater self-confidence, a more positive self-image, friendships, and increased family support.  Special Olympics athletes carry these benefits with them into their daily lives at home, in the classroom, on the job, and in the community.  Families who participate become stronger as they learn a greater appreciation of their athletes talents.  Community volunteers find out what good friends the athletes can be.  And everyone learns more about the capabilities of people with intellectual disabilities.

Special Olympics believes that competition among those of equal abilities in the best way to test its athletes' skills, measure their progress, and inspire them to grow.  Special Olympics believes that its program of sports training and competition helps people with intellectual disabilities become physically fit and grow mentally, socially, and spiritually.  Special Olympics believes that consistent training is required to develop sports skills.

The Spirit of Special Olympics skill, courage, sharing and joy transcends boundaries of geography, nationality, political philosophy, gender, age, race, or religion.

Special Olympics Began . in 1968 when Eunice Kennedy Shriver organized the First International Special Olympics Games at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois, USA.  The concept was born in the early 1960s when Mrs. Shriver started a day camp for people with intellectual disabilities.  She saw that people with intellectual disabilities were far more capable in sports and physical activities than many experts thought.  Since 1968, millions of children and adults with intellectual disabilities have participated in Special Olympics.

Around The World . there are accredited Special Olympics programs in nearly 150 countries.  Special Olympics programs are continually being developed around the world.

In the United States . Special Olympics Chapters are established in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and American Samoa.  About 25,000 communities in the United States have Special Olympic programs.

Through the Special Olympics Model School District programs, public school districts include Special Olympics in their physical education curriculum and provide extracurricular and interscholastic sports to elementary and secondary students with intellectual disabilities.  The Special Olympics Mega-Cities program coordinates Special Olympics training and competition in schools, community recreation programs, group homes, and institutions in 11 large metropolitan areas.

To Be Eligible To Participate .

Eligibility Guidelines

• Special Olympics training and competition is open to every person with intellectual disability (mental retardation) or closely-related developmental disabilities
• Athletes must be at least eight years old
• Athletes must register to participate in Special Olympics as required by the Special Olympics official General Rules.

The Unified Sports Program . brings persons without intellectual disabilities together on the same team with persons with intellectual disabilities of comparable age and athletic ability.  Founded in 1987, Unified Sports fosters the integration of persons with intellectual disabilities into school and community sports programs.

We are looking for volunteers!

Please contact us about the sports that will be offered, general information or about becoming a volunteer. Phone # (252) 808-4067 or email jessicaj@carteretcountygov.org

• Special Olympics North Carolina
• Special Olympics Website
• National Center on Physical Activity and Disability
• North Carolina Office on Disability and Health