According to the University of Missouri Health Systems, competitive sports can be beneficial to the development of the mind, body and heart. Competitive sports can be especially beneficial for people with special needs. Founded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the Special Olympics Games brings athletes from across the state of Oklahoma to put their skills to the test by competing for the coveted prize of the gold medal. Special Olympics are a year-round program of sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with special needs. The organization offers 16 competitive sports, including alpine skiing/cross country skiing, aquatics, basketball, bocce, bowling, equestrian, flag football and many more. Athletes who participate in the Special Olympics remain physically active while increasing their self-esteem and self-confidence. Oklahoma’s first Special Olympic event was held at the University of Tulsa in 1969. The 2016 Oklahoma Special Olympics Winter Games will be held Jan. 14-16 in Norman on the University of Oklahoma campus. Every two years the world transcends the boundaries of geography, nationality, politics, philosophy, gender, age, culture and religion to come together for the largest sporting and humanitarian event on the planet. For more information, visit www.sook.org
