Flinders Basketball Club in Sydney is excited to promote a local basketball event for Special Olympics Clubs. In collaboration with Special Olympics Australia and Gymnastics Australia, this event aims to enhance the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities in gymnastics throughout the country. Through their partnership, they will work together on various initiatives over the next three years to increase participation pathways for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Kitty Chiller AM, chief executive of Gymnastics Australia, expressed their enthusiasm for extending the partnership with Special Olympics Australia and promoting gymnastics as an inclusive sport for people of all abilities. Recognising that gymnastics equips individuals of all ages with the skills and experiences necessary for their physical literacy, Gymnastics Australia wants to provide more opportunities for people to get involved and fall in love with the sport.
One of the key commitments of this partnership involves leveraging the Australian Government's Sporting Schools initiative. Special Olympics Australia and Gymnastics Australia will offer a specifically adapted program for students with intellectual disabilities. This new agreement builds upon the successful piloting of Special Olympics Australia's Young Athletes program, which aims to develop fundamental movement skills in children aged two to eight, regardless of intellectual disabilities. In collaboration, Gymnastics Australia coaches, who have completed the Young Athletes coaching course provided by Special Olympics Australia, will deliver these programs.
Naazmi Johnston, Special Olympics Australia's National Young Athletes Manager, explained that this partnership provides benefits to both parties involved. Special Olympics clubs gain access to facilities and qualified coaches, which they often struggle with, while gymnastics clubs have the opportunity to run programs during quiet times. This partnership will continue to grow the Young Athletes program nationally, providing recreational gymnastics as a pathway for young children with intellectual disabilities to join Gymnastics Australia's Kindergym program or receive training with a Special Olympics club.
For further information about the Young Athletes program, interested individuals can visit the SOA Learn and Gymnastics Australia webpage. Additionally, they can view the Memorandum of Understanding between Special Olympics Australia and Gymnastics Australia to learn more about their collaboration. Don't miss out on this fantastic opportunity to support and participate in a basketball event that promotes the inclusion and development of individuals with intellectual disabilities.
