Seven thousand athletes, 150 countries, over 18 disciplines: these were the numbers in the first Special Olympic World Summers held in Dublin, Ireland in 2003. Ever since, the numbers have only grown. However, before the Special Olympics became a worldwide phenomena, USA, the nation of its birth, has been conducting the Special Olympics with fervor, bringing out the best in people with intellectual disabilities.
“Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt,” is the oath taken by every participant in the Special Olympics games. Year-round training in more than 20 different Olympic sports are given to children and adult participants with intellectual disabilities. Indiana alone contributes nearly 10,000 athletes to the Special Olympics games training every year.
Hancock County in Indiana is truly a forerunner when it comes to participating in the Special Olympics. In fact, the Hancock County community can say with pride that the first participants of the Indiana Special Olympics’ first games held in Busch Stadium in Indianapolis were from its own County. What started as a once a year track and field event has grown into a year-round full-fledged competition in 12 sports. Aquatics, basketball, bowling, volleyball, track and field etc. are some of the traditional fields in which participants with both intellectual and physical disabilities are trained. Hancock County also gives training in unified sports program in aquatics, bowling, golf and volleyball for participants to take part with partners. The programs are divided according to the capacities of each participant. Some athletes are endowed with lower physical abilities, or want to compete, but are not ready to play the games yet, both physically and conceptually. For them, the Special Olympics Hancock County trains the athlete in the best way possible way by giving them courage, keeping them physically fit, and letting them find and share the joys of friendship.