Special
Olympics  would
not exist today - could not have been created - without the
time, energy, dedication, and commitment of the more than 500,000
Special Olympics volunteers. Special Olympics as a movement
relies on dedicated volunteers to provide year-round sports
training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type
sports for people eight years of age and older with mental
handicaps.
Volunteers include students, senior citizens, business people,
family members of athletes, amateur
and professional athletes and coaches, teachers and
many others. They fill a wide variety of roles for Special
Olympics programs at the local, state, national and international
levels, from the role of coach, to fund-raiser, from coaching
athletes to coordinating families, from timer and scorer to
public relations and outreach to new athletes - the Volunteer
Opportunities are numerous. Experience
is a plus, but not a necessity. What you do need is
a strong commitment and unlimited dedication.
Anyone can be a Special Olympics volunteer. As a Special
Olympics volunteer,
you'll be helping people with mental retardation
and/or closely related developmental disabilities of all ages
and abilities to
fulfill their potential; strengthen their characters;
to develop their physical skills and display their talents.
Volunteering for Special Olympics can create lifetime friendships
and rewards of immeasurable
value.
If you're already involved, take pride in knowing that you
are an important part of a program that offers opportunities
to athletes with mental retardation around the world. If you'd
like to get involved, you may contact your Local Program office
to see how you can volunteer in your area. You may also visit
our web-site and fill out a short request form, then you will
receive notices of our volunteer needs via mail or e-mail
and receive a brochure which details year-round volunteer
opportunities.
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