You may be wondering what the Special Olympics are all about. They are designed for children with disabilities who can’t do certain things, such as kids in wheelchairs.
Many kids love sports, but medical conditions often prevent them from participating. That’s where the Special Olympics come in.
The Special Olympics is only for kids with disabilities. For example, my parents are enrolling me in my school district one because I have a disability. I enjoy the Special Olympics, though they differ from the regular Olympics.
The regular Olympics are for individuals without disabilities, while the Special Olympics are for those with disabilities.
Participants must be at least 8 years old to qualify for the Special Olympics. I found that 21 disabilities can qualify a person for the Special Olympics.
One of them is cerebral palsy, which is what I have, as I am unable to use my left arm. I’m participating in the Special Olympics basketball event, where kids like me have a better chance at winning.
In the basketball competition I’m joining, the hoops are lowered for children in wheelchairs, so they can score. This adjustment is especially helpful for me because I am quite short, and during a recent basketball unit in gym class, I struggled to score because the hoop was too high.
For kids in wheelchairs, the ramp for basketball is lowered, so everyone can have fun while being competitive. I love running, but I can’t run long distances before my left leg tires.
These are just a few reasons the Special Olympics are so important for kids like me. If interested, you can look up the various disabilities that qualify for the Special Olympics.
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