Many children with intellectual disabilities in New York City lack access to training facilities, qualified coaches, or local teams, preventing eager athletes from participating. Special Olympics New York launched the "Join the Movement. Change Lives. Inspire Champions." campaign to recruit volunteer coaches, sports facilities, and sponsors to establish new year-round training clubs across all five boroughs. Training clubs bring athletes and coaches together consistently to train, compete, and build social connections. Several existing clubs are at capacity, creating waitlists. Parents, coaches, businesses, and community leaders are being asked to help create new clubs and expand access.
As parents, none of us want to imagine our child waiting on the sidelines, not because they aren't ready to play, but because there simply isn't enough room on the team. That's the reality facing many athletes with intellectual disabilities in New York City today. Luckily, a new campaign from Special Olympics New York aims to change that for city kids.
A training club brings together local athletes and coaches who meet consistently year-round to train in one or more sports, with the goal of competing in Special Olympics events. "Training clubs are the heart of our organization," said Stacey Hengsterman, President & CEO of Special Olympics New York. "Those weekly practices are where athletes come together not only to learn a sport and become the champions they are meant to be, but to meet the teammates and volunteers who become a second family to them."
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