Programs Offered
HCSO provides year-round training and competition for 15 traditional sports and 10 Unified Sports. Special Olympics has developed and tested training programs that are outlined in a sports Skills Guide for each sport. Over 100 qualified coaches train HCSO athletes. The Unified Sports Program brings individuals with and without disabilities together for sports and recreation. Begun in 1987, Unified Sports fosters the integration of persons with mental and developmental disabilities into school and community sports programs.
Eligibility
To be eligible to participate in Special Olympics, you must be at least eight years old and identified by an agency of professionals as having one of the following conditions: mental or developmental disabilities, cognitive delays as measured by formal assessment, significant learning or vocational problems due to cognitive delay that require or have required specially designed instruction. Children 5-7 years old my participate in training activities. Children 2-5 may participate in the Young Athletes Program.
Programs Offered
| Official Sports | Unified Sports | Other Activities | |||
| Aquatics | Golf | Soccer | Aquatics | Skiing | Art Show |
| Athletics | Gymnastics | Softball | Athletics | Soccer | Fishing |
| Basketball | Motor Activities Program | Tennis | Basketball | Softball | Recreational Programs |
| Bocce Ball | Power Lifting | Volleyball | Bowling | Tennis | Young Athletes Program |
| Bowling | Rollerskating | Golf | Volleyball | ||
| Equestrian | Skiing | ||||
Special Olympic competitions are patterned after the Olympic Games. Twenty-four events in both summer and winter sports are held each year in Hamilton County. Special Olympics Ohio holds annual statewide competitions.
Unified Sports
Hamilton County Special Olympics offers a Unified Sports Program. This program pairs a mentally/developmentally handicapped individual with a non-handicapped individual, who is the partner.
The partner can be a family member, a friend, or the Special Olympian can be paired with someone that they do not know.
The Unified Sports Program is a great way for everyone to get involved. Athletes and partners have a chance to meet new people and make new friends. Both athletes and partners are able to improve their current abilities, learn new skills, and make new friends.
Athletes Assigned By Division
By assigning athletes to division commensurate with their ability, HCSO gives every athlete a reasonable chance to win. Athletes from all divisions may advance to State, National and International Games.
Athletes With Severe Handicaps
For athletes with severe handicaps, Special Olympics created its Motor Activities Training Program (MATP) to provide comprehensive motor skill training to individuals with severe and profound limitations. In the MATP, emphasis is on training and participation rather than competition. MATP is part of the Special Olympics commitment to offer sports training to all individuals with mental and developmental disabilities. Experts cooperating in the creation of MATP included physical educators, physical therapist and recreation therapist.