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 The
Healthy Athletes Initiative for Special Olympics was
started in 1996, the purpose being to improve athletes’
capabilities in trainings and matches in Special Olympics
Games, and to identify any illnesses not noticed previously,
thus allowing for timely treatment.
In this initiative, athletes will receive a series of
health screening. The screenings will be conducted in
a welcoming and fun environment. Numerous medical professionals
and students will receive professional and strict Special
Olympics training for this initiative. Consequently,
more medical professionals will come to understand the
health needs and abilities of people with intellectual
and developmental disabilities, and provide full and
beneficial health screening to athletes. Through medical
examinations by medical professionals, health consultation
and relevant help will be offered to athletes, which
will help many of them develop better living habits,
and improve their health and fitness, and allow them
to better enjoy the happiness they get from sports and
enhance their abilities to do training and to finish
matches. Receiving health examination in an environment
of equality and tolerance, people with intellectual
disabilities who participate in Special Olympics Games
will feel the care and support from other people in
all walks of life, and thus be encouraged to bravely
integrate with the rest of society and enjoy their life.
The Healthy Athletes Initiative for Special Olympics
is a program that benefits Special Olympics, people
with intellectual disabilities, and the whole of society.
Health information collected from this initiative has
great significance, which will be of help in development
planning, program expansion, support seeking, policy
improvements and professional research. Data from the
Healthy Athletes Initiative will be entered into a special
network system to constitute the largest existing health
information database of people with intellectual disabilities,
which will then provide the most authoritative comprehensive
support both for Special Olympics and for other undertakings
for people with intellectual disabilities, ensuring
happy future prospects for their health pursuits.
During the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games,
medical volunteers will provide a series of health examinations
and treatments – free of charge – to athletes participating
in the Games, including vision, dental and hearing retardation,
as well as other physical treatments. The health screening
has helped many athletes comprehend and understand severe
illnesses that they have, and has helped them promptly
improve their own health situation so as to keep a healthy
body. This activity can even revolutionize the whole
life of a Special Olympics athlete. |
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