Annual Report 2015 CELEBRATING 35 YEARS Mission Special Olympics is committed to enriching the lives of Albertans with an intellectual disability through sport.

Vision Special Olympics is a Special Olympics Alberta provides individuals with an catalyst for social change. intellectual disability, of all ages, abilities, opportunity to realize their full athletic potential, with appropriate Our programs help: training, coaching and competitions, to develop life • Instill confidence, self-esteem and other life skills skills, a healthy body and self-esteem. in our athletes

Special Olympics Alberta is an accredited chapter of • Contribute to healthier athletes with life-long Special Olympics Canada. physical fitness habits

• Change attitudes and create a more inclusive society Special Olympics is more • Strengthen communities than an event! Special Olympics delivers world-class sport programs to people with intellectual disabilities of all ages and a wide range of abilities daily in communities across Alberta.

Special Olympics believes that people with intellectual disabilities can, and will, succeed when given the opportunity – we are leveling the playing field. 35 Years of Special Olympics in Alberta

Special Olympics is a movement driven to provide “Athletes became more accepted as the general public was made sport to people with intellectual disabilities, because aware of their abilities instead of their disabilities,” said Louise Suru, past president of Special Olympics Alberta in 1980. we know that it unlocks the full potential of not just athletes, but creates an inclusive society. This belief “They became more a part of the community. I believe the greatest was not always apparent at the onset of the cause impact is that athletes grew in self confidence and social skills, and also realized that they could accomplish higher goals, whether which was only driven through the commitment they were sports related, work related, or social interaction or of grass roots. After Harry “Red” Foster brought community related. “ the movement of Special Olympics to Canada in 1969, sport education to people with intellectual Special Olympics in Alberta has flourished from these humble beginnings with the spread of Special Olympics in more disabilities was slowly being adopted in communities communities throughout Alberta. Inclusion brought partnerships across Alberta in various ways. with sport organizations that provided modified sports and eventually its insertion into provincial games which included athletes In Red Deer, providing sport activities to people with intellectual with and without disabilities. In 1984, Alberta featured modified disabilities was started by Park Land School, special education cross-country skiing and speed skating in the Alberta Winter Games. classes, and a care facility, Michener Centre, long before Special In 1986, our province took centre stage for the nation, hosting Olympics was officially incorporated in Alberta. The community the Canadian Special Olympics Summer Games in Calgary. 1,019 created “Special Games for Special People” in the 1970s and took athletes and coaches from all over Canada were welcomed with a part in a Special Olympics tournament in Winnipeg in 1974 where thunderous roar of fans in McMahon Stadium and the bright flame athletes competed in track and field, swimming and bowling. from a torch carried across Canada by 12,000 Canadians.

“I know parents from the organization of Michener Centre where The growth of Special Olympics is apparent from seeing this very supportive,” said Jim Young, one of the founders of Special number double in the 2014 Special Olympics Canada Summer Olympics in Alberta. Games in Vancouver where over 1,200 athletes, 700 coaches and mission staff, and 1,000 volunteers made up the largest summer “That was the start of integrating the mentally handicapped games in Canada. The National Games also introduced two new in the community. Everyone was