Blog: 'Summer presents us with an opportunity to get out and move about'
The English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) website features a blog post every Friday through the year.
August's theme is our Active Summer Fun campaign. This week, Maimoona Mapara from Special Olympics Great Britain discusses recent success stories in Los Angeles and how the summer can kickstart your activity.
Maimoona's blog:
When the sun’s out and the temperature rises, it’s only natural to feel a burst of energy – often it can make you want to run across a field, kick a football, shoot some hoops on a basketball court or dive into a swimming pool.
Calling upon a few friends and lining up an outdoor activity always beats staying indoors, sitting around.
Summer presents us with an opportunity for people of all abilities to get out and move about and, vitally, have a good time.
In the spirit of getting sporty this summer, Special Olympics Great Britain (SOGB) warmly welcomed home 115 extraordinary athletes on 4 August, after a fortnight of representing England, Scotland and Wales at the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Los Angeles.
TeamSOGB participated in 19 sports including athletics, open water, football, swimming and tennis.
Open Water TeamSOGB athlete Jamie Kelly told us:
“Special Olympics has given me more confidence by mixing with other athletes with the same disability as myself and has given me self-respect and taught me not to be ashamed of my disability.”
Special Olympics GB is part of the global Special Olympics Movement that supports adults and children with an intellectual (learning) disability.
Against all the odds of society’s perceptions, Special Olympics is the largest organisation that supports adults and children with intellectual (learning) disabilities. It offers sports training, coaching and competitions to hundreds of millions of children and adults in more than 170 countries year round, in over 32 Olympic-style individual and team sports.
In the warm, wonderful and welcoming setting of Los Angeles, more than 12 months of preparations and intense training combined with the determination of each one of our athletes to deliver.
There were a magnificent set of performance by our TeamSOGB superstars. It has been remarkable - they shone for their country and have brought home 179 medals.
Most professional athletes are concerned with winning or losing, or setting a new record or personal best. It is not so for our athletes.
Special Olympic athletes are encouraged in meaningful training to build their confidence and level of fitness, whilst encouraged to socialise and form friendships in a welcoming and accepting environment.
The spirit of sport was greatly in evidence in Los Angeles. Of course, every athlete was striving for a gold medal, but the class and grace of all athletes - regardless of their result - was an example to everyone.
And they were empowered by their accomplishments, setting personal bests, gaining podium wins and making friends in an inclusive community.
As if to prove the point, equestrianism star Georgina Maton said:
"When I was growing up, I didn’t communicate to anyone. I kept myself to myself. By learning through horses and the school [with Special Olympics GB], I can communicate now to a whole room, talk to people openly."
And Head Coach Andrew Beynon added:
“I am so proud of my squad; they all work so hard to get what they have achieved.
"When I was growing up, I didn’t communicate to anyone. I kept myself to myself. By learning through horses and the school [with Special Olympics GB], I can communicate now to a whole room, talk to people openly."
Having an intellectual (learning) disability does not automatically mean that you cannot be, or are not, a sportsperson. In truth, everyone who has an unwavering belief and an innate desire to make something of themselves through their sporting love, disabled or non-disabled, can determine their own strengths and capacity to triumph.
For all the action and behind the scenes of champions TeamSOGB at the World Games, click here. English Learning Disability Sport Alliance (ELDSA) is a partnership between two NDSOs, Mencap Sport and Special Olympics GB. Who work together to promote sport and physical activity opportunities for people with a learning disability.
