Special Olympics Gymnastics: A 50 Year HistoryRole of Officials and Parents in Special Olympics Gymnastics

The Role of Our OfficialsWithout our officials, we would not have competitions!Fig1They are cheerleaders, safety keepers, all around helpers, and fair decision makers of our athletes’ efforts. They teach others and share their knowledge with coaches and athletes. They understand our rules and volunteer their time so that we can compete.Fig2Fig3

The Role of the ParentsThis couldn’t be said better than what one announcer said before one of our competitions:Par.Fig1“Ladies & gentlemen: To organize & execute an event as large as the Special Olympics, many volunteers have generously dedicated their time to bring to life everything that you see…But it doesn’t even come close to what you cannot see: the untold stories of our special mothers & fathers who have sacrificially poured their lives into caring for and raising our Special Olympics athletes. But when asked what makes them so special, they humbly say, “We’re just regular parents with extraordinary children.”Par.Fig2Special Olympics joins with all here to honor you for being who you are, and teaching us how to look beyond the disability to the treasured beauty that lies within… and in doing so, teaching us all how to:

Love without limits

Transform tears into laughter & joy

Courageously rise to take on each new day with dignity & strength!

Thank you for sharing the gift of your child with us & with the world!”Par.Fig3

Par.Fig4Par.Fig5
Gymnastics 50 CoverDocument NavigationAcknowledgementsContentsForeword and MissionSpecial Olympics Gymnastics MilestonesSpecial Olympics Gymnastics Sport DirectorGymnastic Sport PlansGymnastics Sports Rules Sub CommitteesRole of the Coach in Special Olympics GymnasticsRole of Officials and Parents in Special Olympics Gymnastics50 Years of Competitions and Events1983 - International Special Olympics Summer Games1987 - International Summer Games - Notre Dame, Indiana1991 - International Summer Games - Minneapolis/St. Paul1993 - US Olympic Festival1995 - World Summer Games - New Haven, Connecticut1995 - European Regional Training School - Rome, Italy1999 - World Summer Games - North Carolina2003 - World Summer Games - Dublin, Ireland2006 - USA Games - Ames, Iowa2007 - World Summer Games, Shanghai, China2010 - USA Games, Nebraska2011 - Inaugural USA Gymnastics/SO Championships2011 - World Summer Games, Athens, Greece2014 – USA Games, Trenton, New Jersey2015 - World Summer Games, Los Angeles, California2018 – USA Games, Seattle, Washington2018 - 50th Anniversary of Special Olympics2019 - World Summer Games - Abu Dhabi2022 - USA Games - Orlando, FloridaFinal Word