#inclusive-sports

#inclusive-sports

Special Olympics focuses on athletes with intellectual disabilities, emphasizing that they want the same opportunities as everyone else (friends, jobs, independence) without social barriers. The organization helps remove obstacles to let athletes thrive. SOPA is all about the athletes and their remarkable resilience under challenging conditions. One remarkable fact about the athletes with intellectual disabilities is that they want to seek normalcy, inclusion, and the same opportunities as anyone else. They are not looking for "special" treatment or lowered expectations from people.

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.

General Manager Alex Hardin liken Campo di Bocce to bowling alleys, stating that bocce ball is more strategically competitive, with exceptional food and service.

"Nomi was the first wheelchair user who came to us wanting to learn to sail. At the time, we had no experience with wheelchair sailing, but we started her out on a children's catamaran."