The mission of Special Olympics Colorado is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendships with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.
The Special Olympics oath is "Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt."
Special Olympics Colorado is a registered non-profit organization supported entirely by private donations from individuals, corporations and organizations throughout the state.
Special Olympics Colorado held its first event at Aurora Hinkley High School in 1969. Four hundred athletes participated in the one-day track & field meet.
Today, the organization serves more than 10,000 athletes with a volunteer base of over 6,000 and provides opportunities to train and compete in over 20 Olympic-type sports year-round with more than 80 competitions throughout the year.
The 20 Olympic-type sports Special Olympics Colorado offers include bowling, equestrian and volleyball in the fall; alpine skiing, basketball, cross country skiing, figure skating, speed skating, snowshoeing and snowboarding in the winter; aquatics, gymnastics, power lifting, soccer and track & field in the spring; and bocce, cycling, golf, softball and tennis in the summer.
Special Olympics Colorado hosts four statewide events - State Basketball Tournament, Winter Games, Summer Games and Fall Classic.
Special Olympics, Inc. hosts World Games, which take place every other year. Just last winter, Colorado athletes -- Brydie Charles and Josh Reynolds -- collected gold medals in snowshoeing at the 2009 World Winter Games.
Special Olympics Colorado is organized into five geographic areas that are each served by a SOCO Area Manager. The five areas include the Denver Area, the Mile High Area, the Northeastern Area, the Southeastern Area and the combined Western and Southwestern Areas.
Special Olympics is an international program of year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Today, 2.25 million athletes in over 200 Special Olympics Programs in more than 160 countries train and compete in over 20 Olympic-type sports, ranging from skiing to sailing.
The Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics is an international series of torch relays, run by law enforcement officers. It is the largest grassroots fundraiser and public awareness vehicle for Special Olympics in the world. In its 25th anniversary year in 2006, the Torch Run raised $25.5 million for Special Olympics Programs around the world. Here in Colorado, the Torch Run program raises over $250,000 annually to support athletes throughout the state.
Get more information and Be a fan™, contact the Special Olympics Colorado Today -- Phone: 800.777.5767 / 303.592.1361 - Fax: 303.592.1364 - www.specialolympicsco.org
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