Special Olympics Great Britain
Who are Special Olympics GB?
Special Olympics Great Britain (SOGB) operates throughout the UK to provide sports and physical activity opportunities, ranging from local participation to competing on the world stage.
SOGB ensures that individuals with intellectual disabilities have the chance to reach their full potential. Offering a wide range of sports - from ice-skating and skiing to football, golf, and judo - SOGB collaborates with National Governing Bodies to create national opportunities for participation.
Alongside participation, SOGB trains volunteers to deliver sports in a safe and supportive environment. They also provide training opportunities through written resources and online courses to help practitioners in the sports sector improve their inclusive practice for individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Primary and Secondary Settings
Special Olympics Great Britain offers School Games formats for both primary and secondary-aged young people, with and without SEND.
- Motor Activity Training Programme (MATP)® is a Special Olympics sport for athletes of all ages with profound and multiple learning disabilities and complex support needs. The programme is athlete-centred, with coaches focusing on key motor skills that each athlete needs to improve motor development and quality of life. They then develop sports-specific activities to teach these important skills.
- Unified Sports Formats is an inclusive sports programme that brings together Special Olympics athletes (individuals with intellectual disabilities) and partners (individuals without intellectual disabilities) on teams for training and competition. Unified Basketball is an exciting sport that promotes physical, mental, and social development, as well as coordination, control, teamwork, and leadership.
Equipment Needed
- Any school sports equipment (e.g. goals, hoops, balls, rackets, cones, skittles, hoops, bean bags, etc)
- A variety of balls (e.g. foam, physio) of various colours and sizes
- Goals, ramps
- A spacious environment (e.g. sports hall)
- Upbeat music and music player
- Imagination!