Special Olympics Zimbabwe, provides year-round sports training and the opportunity for competition in Olympic-type sports for adults and children with intellectual disabilities.
Welcome
- Other Initiatives:
Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt - the spirit of Special Olympics is best captured by the oath that all athletes take at the start of competition.
Sport:Special Olympics is an international organization of which Zimbabwe is an affiliate, providing year-round sports training and the opportunity for competition in Olympic-type sports for adults and children with intellectual disabilities.
Challenge: It provides enjoyable, beneficial and challenging activities that enhance the participants well-being.
Growth: The spirit of Special Olympics brings together people from all backgrounds and encourages sharing and skill development.
Empowerment: It helps bring intellectually disabled persons into the larger community under conditions where they are accepted, respected and given a chance to become productive citizens. In Zimbabwe and other countries, superstitious culture can have communities outcast people with learning disabilities believing them to be a bad omen to the family and community. Proving to the community that these individuals can compete in sports, travel to parts of the world no-one in their community might ever go to and bring back medals from their competition does wonders for their acceptance and respect.
Origins: Started in the USA by Eunice Kennedy, sister of President John Kennedy, just after he took office in 1961, together with her husband, Sergeant Shriver. Their son Tim is now Chairman of the Board and Bruce Pasternack is President and C.E.O.
