22 November 2006

People with Intellectual Disabilities Benefit from Sports, Competition

Special Olympics is focus of online discussion

 

(Photo courtesy of Bob Gobrecht)

By Carolee Walker
Staff Writer

Washington -- Sports training and competition improve the lives of people with intellectual disabilities and, in turn, the lives of everyone they touch, said Bob Gobrecht, managing director for Special Olympics North America, in a webchat November 22.

According to Gobrecht, “Children and adults with intellectual disabilities who participate exhibit boundless courage and enthusiasm, enjoy the rewards of friendship and ultimately discover not only new abilities and talents but ‘their voices’ as well.”

The Special Olympics is an international organization dedicated to empowering individuals, including children, with intellectual disabilities to become physically fit, productive and respected members of society through sports training and competition, Gobrecht said. The organization sponsors year-round training and competition in 30 Olympic-type summer and winter sports.

More than 2.25 million persons with intellectual disabilities in more than 150 countries train and compete at local, state, national and world level.

Special Olympics and Paralympics are two separate organizations recognized by the International Olympic Committee. The International Paralympic Committee is the international organization of elite sports for athletes with physical disabilities.

Athletic training and competition for intellectually disabled individuals also serve as catalysts for social change, Gobrecht said.

“Our sports, communication and health programs tell the world that our athletes are important and deserve respect,” he said. “They work hard to better themselves in Special Olympics.”

When discussing whether the United States approaches people with disabilities in a different manner that citizens of other countries and whether these differences might affect the organization’s perception in the world, Gobrecht said his organization is able to use sport as a common standard for other nations.

“China is a great example,” Gobrecht noted. The Chinese “have learned from all their Special Olympics fellow countries about many things in the area of disability rights. It is truly amazing to think that our biggest event will be held there. It promises to be the best ever. Many Chinese laws and practices have been looked at and in some cases changed.”

Although the Special Olympics organization was founded in the United States, as far as the number of competitors is concerned the United States is now in the second place after China, Gobrecht says. The next Special Olympics World Games, with 10,000 athletes participating, will be in 2007 in Shanghai, China.

Gobrecht said cities compete in advance for the right to hold the games, and the selection criteria are similar to those for the Olympic Games.

Prior to taking his present position with Special Olympics, Gobrecht was vice president of sales and marketing for the Seattle Mariners and the Anaheim Angels Major League Baseball teams, and manager of the Disney International Sports Program. He is also a former Peace Corps volunteer.

More information on the Special Olympics is available on the organization’s Web site.

For more information disability issues, especially in the United States, see the November eJournal  Disability and Ability.

A transcript of Gobrecht’s discussion and information on upcoming webchats are available on America.gov's Ask America.