Canadian Special
Olympics Mission Statement:
The mission statement of the Canadian
Special Olympics (CSO) is to ensure that a full continuum of sport
opportunities is available to persons with a mental handicap.
Principles to Support
the Mission Statement:
Special Olympics is a sport program.
Sport involves the matching of strength, endurance, and physical skill
in a formalized setting with structured rules and determined outcomes.
Sport includes a full continuum of opportunities, from grass roots development
to high level competition.
CSO provides sport opportunities directly for athletes with a mental
handicap. CSO also links these athletes with other organizations
providing appropriate sport opportunities.
Special Olympics may contain elements of play, recreation or physical
education, and should also assist athletes in participating meaningfully
and successfully in all dimensions of a physically active lifestyle.
The practice of grouping athletes for competition based on their
abilities is functional and critical to the Special Olympics program.
This practice, termed divisioning, ensures that all athletes
experience equitable competition (i.e., divisions shall be even.)
Special Olympics uses the medium of sport to assist persons with a
mental handicap to become all they can be - physically, mentally,
socially, emotionally - and to become accepted, respected, and
productive members of society.
Training and preparation are essential to meaningful
participation in sport and are an indispensable element of any Special
Olympics program.
The athlete is all important in Special Olympics. It is critical that
coaches, parents, and caregivers encourage and provide Special Olympics
Athletes with opportunities to reach their highest level of athletic
achievement.
Special Olympics rewards dedication, preparation, effort and spirit
(i.e. "doing your best", both in training and competition).
Success is measured by the effect of the experience that the athlete receives.