Special Olympics Clubs – Sunshine Coast is a sports club located in Nambour, Australia. As part of the Special Olympics network, the club provides a range of sport, recreation, social, and health opportunities for individuals with an intellectual disability. Their mission is to help these individuals have fun, be healthy, build self-esteem, demonstrate courage, and make friends.
Special Olympics Australia is part of a global sporting community for people with an intellectual disability. The movement was pioneered by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, sister to US President John F Kennedy, and has grown into a global organisation supporting over 5 million athletes in 177 countries. Special Olympics Australia began in 1976, when many individuals with an intellectual disability were confined to institutions. While this is no longer the norm in Australia, the organisation seeks public support to ensure that people with an intellectual disability are not shut out and have access to sport.
Currently, only 3,000 athletes participate with Special Olympics Australia, despite there being 850,000 individuals with intellectual disabilities and/or autism. The organisation relies on support from the community to increase their reach and spread the joy of sport and community. They believe in the power of sport to create a better world, much like the Olympics and Paralympics. Special Olympics offers year-round multi-sports programmes for individuals with intellectual disabilities of all capabilities.
They also provide robust competition pathways, including the World Games, which is hosted on a four-year cycle in summer and winter sports.
Individuals with an intellectual disability may find it harder to perform basic tasks, such as reading or handling money. They may learn differently or require more time and support to succeed. However, Special Olympics believes that everyone has hidden talents, and sport can help individuals uncover and showcase their abilities. The club aims to make these abilities visible and provide opportunities for personal achievement, pride, and inclusion for the marginalised and isolated members of the community.
In conclusion, Special Olympics Clubs – Sunshine Coast in Nambour is a sports club dedicated to providing sport, recreation, social, and health opportunities for individuals with an intellectual disability. Through their programmes, the club aims to help these individuals have fun, be healthy, build self-esteem, demonstrate courage, and make friends. They are part of the Special Olympics Australia organisation, which seeks to increase awareness and funding for individuals with intellectual disabilities. The club relies on public support to expand their reach and spread the joy of sport and community.