Special Olympics at Villanova

Villanova University traces its roots of Special Olympics back to 1979, when it played host to regional events, including the Eastern State Soccer Tournament. In 1989, the soccer tournament welcomed the addition of roller skating, volleyball, long distance running/walking, and equstrian to hold the first Fall Festival in the university's history. The festival quickly became a well-publicized and popular campus event that was run by a student-only committee. As the festival grew, so did the committee, and soon the event was coined as the largest annual student-run Special Olympics event in the world.

Today, behind the support from the university, SOPA, and the surrounding community, the event has grown to incorporate over 1,000 athletes, 400 coaches, and 3,000 volunteers for the sports of bocce, long distance running/walking, powerlifting, roller skating, soccer, and volleyball. In addition to the competitive sporting events the festival offers, the Fall Festival has become known for its other, extracurricular offerings, including an elaborate opening ceremonies (headlined last year by former NBA player Daryl Dawkins), a parade, Victory Dance, Healthy Athlete screenings, an enormous Olympic Town, and closing ceremonies, all at no cost to the athletes.

To provide these services and amenities for the athletes, the Villanova Special Olympics committee relies on fundraising and donations, many of which stem from its annual STRIDES 5k race through campus.

Villanova University has also hosted the 2006 National Games Training Camp and the 2007 World Summer Games Send-Off for athletes. In 2009, Villanova became involved in the national campaign to "Spread the Word to End the Word" in order to stop the derogatory use of the word "retard." Also in 2009, the university was honored with the Chairman's Choice Award from Special Olympics Pennsylvania Hall of Fame.

The Special Olympics Movement

Mission: Special Olympics is an international organization dedicated to empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities to become physically fit, productive and respected members of society through sports training and competition. Special Olympics offers children and adults with intellectual disabilities year-round training and competition in 26 Olympic-type summer and winter sports.

"Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt." - Athlete Oath

Scope: Special Olympics currently serves more than 2.5 million persons with intellectual disabilities in more than 200 programs in more than 180 countries. Children and adults with intellectual disabilities who participate in Special Olympics develop improved physical fitness and motor skills, greater self-confidence and a more positive self-image. They grow mentally, socially and spiritually and, through their activities, exhibit boundless courage and enthusiasm, enjoy the rewards of friendship and ultimately discover not only new abilities and talents but "their voices" as well.

Sargent Shriver, Chairman of the Board of Special Olympics Inc., may have best described Special Olympics when he wrote that the organization is unique and important because of the ways in which it inspires and reveals the very best in human nature. "It has become," he wrote, "one of the most encouraging and profound developments in modern sports."

The goal of this movement is two-fold:

• To bring intellectual disabilities out of the darkness and into the light of public acceptance and understanding
• To give all persons with an intellectual disability the opportunity to become useful and productive citizens who are accepted and respected in their communities

The spirit of Special Olympics -- skill, courage, sharing, and joy -- incorporates universal values that transcend all boundaries of geography, nationality, political philosophy, gender, age, race, or religion.

Special Olympics Office l 215 Dougherty Hall l 800 Lancaster Ave l Villanova, PA 19085 l (610) 519-7244 l info@villanovaspo.com