Special Olympics Unified Sports is a programme that brings together approximately equal numbers of athletes with intellectual disabilities and their peers without intellectual disabilities on the same team for training and competition. Unified Sports is an important program because it expands sports opportunities for athletes and partners seeking new challenges. In addition, Unified Sports dramatically increases inclusion in the community by helping to break down barriers that have historically kept people with and without intellectual disabilities apart. At the same time, Unified Sports provides a valuable sports opportunity to individuals who are not presently involved in Special Olympics or other sports programs. Unified Sports was created and developed to further the overall mission of Special Olympics.
SO Singapore started the Unified Sports programme in 2002 with a Unified Soccer Competition. Since then, Bocce and Floor Hockey had been added to the programme. To date, SO Singapore has successfully organized the following unified sports competitions:
- 1) Unified Soccer Competition, 25 May 2002
- 2) 5-a-side Unified Soccer Competition, 12 July 2003
- 3) 5-A-Side Unified Soccer Competition, 28 August 2004
- 4) Unified Bocce Competition, 22 April 2006
- 5) Unified Floor Hockey Competition, 27 May 2006
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