FAQ

• What is intellectual disability

  Intellectual disability means lower development abillities and intellectual functioning and sometimes resulting in difficulty with social interaction. Intellectual disability is characterised by lower than average intellectual functioning ( IQ is below 70-75) with two or more limited adaptive skills such as: communication, self-care, home living, social skills, leisure, health and safety, self-direction, functional academis, community use and work.

• What are the distinguishable behaviour characteristics of a person with intellectual disability?

  People with intellectual disabilities express very strong emotions and psychological needs, as might be observed in their manifesting strong attachment, sympathy or antipathy. These people may be hyperactive as well as apathetic, but they very often suffer from behavioural disturbances, such as: violent and destructive behaviour, withdrawing, inappropriate behaviour in society, rebellious behaviour, psychological disturbances, hyperactivity, and others. Mentally people with intellectual disabilities are able to take care of their physiological needs, they can dress and undress on their own, take care of their personal hygiene, master basic household activities since their manual abilities are significantly less impaired as compared to the general level of mental impairment.People with intellectual disabilities can function independently in a society depends on the level of impairment and education as well as on the support they receive from the society.

• How many people with intellectual disabilities are there in Poland?

  Approximately 1.2 mln people with intellectual disabilities live in Poland, including approx. 1 million people with mild intellectual disabilities and approx. 200 thousand people with more severe intellectual disabilities (moderate, severe and profound). Special Olympics carries out a broadly understood motor rehabilitation of the latter group - through sports practiced within the limits of their psychological and physical abilities.

• What is the appropriate term for people with intellectual disability?

  One should use the following terms: person/individuals/people with intellectual disability person/individuals/people with learning disability children with multiple disabilities The following stigmatising names with pejorative connotations should not be used: imbecile retarded person insane person special care children invalid handicapped person not normal person

• How to communicate with people with intellectual disability?

  We should communicate with a person with intellectual disability, the same way as with person with full ability.Talk and treat them as we would like to be treated and talked to.

• Can people with intellectual disability practice sports and participate in competitions?

  Yes, people with intellectual disability can practice sports and participate in competitions. It is the level of disability and co-occurring motor, visual and auditory dysfunctions that determines the disciplines that people with intellectual disabilities can engage in and their ability level. People with mild intellectual disability are able to practice many disciplines which follow sports rules envisaged for people without any disorders. For people with more severe intellectual disability who, for example, do not understand sports competition rules, competitions with slightly simplified set of rules have been prepared.

• What is the influence of sport on people with intellectual disability?

  Sports results of people with intellectual disability, who practise systematically, sometimes do not differ from the results of their peers with average intellectual capacity. In fact, sport is the only sphere of social life that people with intellectual disability can succeed in. Sport is also an ideal tool to improve life quality of people with intellectual disability, starting from motor rehabilitation and positive influence on health, and ending with social integration and habit formation. Adventure with sports in the form of training, camps and accompanying events gives the competitors and other participants unforgettable memories and feelings. Joint initiative unites them. They make friends and, sometimes, even fall in love. International and national competitions make it possible for the athletes to visit different towns and see the world, to meet new people and learn about their culture. Systematic training teaches them discipline and perseverance in pursuing a goal. And achieving a goal, which may be different for every person, strengthens the feeling of self-esteem, and is a source of great satisfaction. Even a failure is not so bitter here, but rather provokes reflexion and motivates to further self-development. In Special Olympics everybody is a winner, because everybody overcomes their weaknesses and disabilities.

• What is ELIOS 2010?

  ELIOS 2010 is an abbreviation in Polish of the 2010 Special Olympics European Summer Games. The name is given to the organization established by Special Olympics Poland to organize the event.

• What is Special Olympics Poland?

  Special Olympics Poland is a sports public benefit organization working for people with intellectual disability in Poland. The organization comprises 561 Special Olympics Sections in 18 Regional Departments. It is an organizational unit of Special Olympics Inc. with the headquarters in Washington, USA – a movement that reached Poland at the beginning of the 1980s.

• What is the mission of Special Olympics?

  The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. This activity gives people with intellectual disabilities opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and share gifts, skills and friendships with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community. Special Olympics is also committed to raising awarness about intellectual disabilities with the goal of challenging stereotypes and prejudices rooted in society.

• When and where will the 2010 Special Olympics European Summer Games take place?

  The 2010 Special Olympics European Summer Games will take place between 18 and 24 September 2010 in Warsaw. The Games will also involve 58 Host Towns across Poland, which will provide social and sports programs for Special olympics athletes from across europe/Eurasia, as well as help to spread the Olympic spirit throughout the whole country.

• What is the significance of ELIOS 2010 in spreading knowledge about the potential of people with intellectual disability?

  The 2010 Special Olympics European Summer Games, which will be attended by 58 National Programs teams from Europe, are extremely important for spreading knowledge about the potential of people with intellectual disability. This will be first time such an important event has been held in East-Central Europe. As the studies suggest, Polish society has a very limited knowledge of people with intellectual disability, not to mention their achievements. The event itself will demonstrate what great sportsmen the Special Olympics athletes are. It will be a concrete proof of their fighting spirit, determination in striving for success, and of their skills. Honorary Patronage of the Special Olympics Games are under patronage of the President of the Republic of Poland, Lech Kaczyński and benefit from partnership with the UNIC (United Nations Information Centre) in Warsaw. The Special Olympic Games will be preceded by two campaigns: social and educational campaign and an advertising one. 50 thousand people will support Special Olympics athletes in Warsaw sports venues. Media coverage of the special Olympics Games will be greatly increased owing to the patronage of TVP SA and Agora SA.

• Who will participate in the 2010 Special Olympics European Summer Games?

  The 2010 Special Olympics European Summer Games will be attended by 1,600 athletes from 58 countries.

• How many and what disciplines will the 2010 Special Olympics European Summer Games competition schedule include?

  During the 2010 Special Olympics European Summer Games, the athletes will compete in nine disciplines including: Badminton, Bowling, Powerlifting, Athletics, Table Tennis, Tennis, Unified Basketball, Female Football, Roller Skating and a demonstration of Motor Activities Training Program (MATP).

• Who organizes the 2010 Special Olympics European Summer Games?

  The 2010 special Olympics European Summer Games are organized by the 2010 Special Olympics European Summer Games Organizing Committee, established by Special Olympics Poland, the Polish National Program Special Olympics Inc. The Special Olympics Games are supported by the government, government institutions, local governments and private enterprises.

• Which towns will participate in the Host Town Program? Where will the competitions take place?

  Sports competitions during the 2010 Special Olympics European Summer Games will take place in Warsaw. Their spirit, however, will spread to other regions of Poland - the official opening of the Special Olympics Games will be preceded by a visit of all 58 representations to 58 selected Polish towns (15-17 September 2010). The aim of Host Town Program is to let the athletes from Europe and Eurasia acclimatise in Poland, as well as to activate and integrate local community in implementing cultural and entertainment programs. Each of the towns will be visited by the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics, starting in the Acropolis, Greece.

• What disciplines will be offered during the 2010 Special Olympics European Summer Games?

  The 2010 Special Olympics European Summer Games will offer such disciplines as: Athletics, Table Tennis, Seven-a-Side Female Football, Unified Basketball, Tennis, Powerlifting, Bowling, Roller Skating, and Badminton.

• What is the 2010 Special Olympics European Summer Games competition schedule?

  The schedule is as follows: 5-day event: from 19 to 23 September 19 and 20 September – training, briefing for coaches, preliminaries, observed games – depending on the discipline; 21, 22 and 23 September – competition in divisions, Awards Ceremony for the athletes.

• How many athletes will compete in individual disciplines?

  The following number of athletes will compete in individual disciplines:

  • Badminton – 100 athletes,
  • Bowling – 150 athletes,
  • Powerlifting – 90 athletes,
  • Athletics – 390 athletes,
  • Table Tennis – 170 athletes,
  • Tennis – 86 athletes,
  • Unified Basketball – 274 athletes,
  • Female Football – 232 athletes,
  • Roller Skating – 80 athletes,
  • Motor Activities Training Program – 30 athletes.

• How many people will be involved in the 2010 Special Olympics European Summer Games?

  Apart from the athletes, there will be approximately 2,000-2,500 volunteers, 1,500 family members and friends, 600 coaches, 200 referees, and 350 medical staff. It is estimated that the number of spectators will amount to approximately 50,000.

• When and where will the Opening Ceremony of the 2010 Special Olympics European Summer Games take place?

  The 2010 Special Olympics European Summer Games Opening Ceremony will take place on 18 September 2010 at Legia Stadium in Warsaw.

• When and where will the Closing Ceremony of the 2010 Special Olympics European Summer Games take place?

  The 2010 Special Olympics European Summer Games Closing Ceremony will take place on 23 September 2010 in Castel Square next to Royal Castle in Warsaw.

• Who is the honorary patron of 2010 Special Olympics European Summer Games?

  Honorary patron of the 2010 Special Olympics European Summer Games is the President of the Republic of Poland, Lech Kaczyński.

• Do the 2010 Special Olympics European Summer Games have a sport-related or social aspect?

  The 2010 Special Olympics European Summer Games have both aspects. First of all, the sport-related aspect of this event is visible in the fact that competitions are organized in line with the rules laid down by International Sports Federation and the Special Olympics Official Rules. Secondly, Special Olympics has the right to use the name "Olympics" and to light the Olympic torch. On the other hand, its social aspect is confirmed by the fact that Special Olympics Poland has decided to include the Special Olympics Games into an extensive social and educational campaign, aiming to change the attitude of society towards people with intellectual disabilities, which will facilitate their integration with the community and their acceptance as full members of the society.

• How did the Special Olympics movement start?

  Special Olympics is an international sports organization, which was established at the beginning of the 1960s in the United States by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, a sister of President John Kennedy. In 1963, Eunice Kennedy organized first play scheme for youth with intellectual disabilities and found out the importance of physical activity and healthy sports rivalry for their development. The first international Special Olympics Summer Games were organized 5 years later, in 1968 in Chicago. The first Special Olympics Games were attended by 1,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities. In 1983, Polish National Team joined the international competition.

• What is the philosophy of Special Olympics?

  Special Olympics is founded on the belief that people with intellectual disability can, when properly encouraged and instructed, train, enjoy and benefit from the participation in individual and team sports. The organization provides a posibility to pursue hobbies and spend free time for athletes with intellectual disabilities, their guardians and families, as well as volunteers and organizers involved in the movement.

• What is the mission of Special Olympics?

  The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. This activity gives people with intellectual disabilities opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their parents, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

• What does the Special Olympics movement in the world look like today?

  Special Olympics has been active for over 40 years, and today it is one of the largest and most active sports and social organizations in the world. At present, there are over 3 million Special Olympics athletes above 8 years of age who take part in the year-round sports training and athletic competitions, experiencing emotions involved in sports rivalry and taking pride in their own achievements. Today, Special Olympics comprises over 200 National Programs in 168 countries, including 58 countries from Europe and Asia. The organization consists of seven main Regional Offices and the Headquarters in Washington. Approximately one million family members and 500 thousand volunteers are involved in the Special Olympics movement. Every year, 20 thousand competitions and sports events take place – in 30 summer and winter sports disciplines.

• When did the Special Olympics movement reach Poland?

  Poland was the first country in Central and Eastern Europe to begin an official cooperation with Special Olympics Inc. in the 1980s. In 1983, Polish representation joined the international competition. In 1985, Polish Nationwide Special Olympics Council was formed under Management Board of the Children’s Friends Association. In 1987, the first Polish Special Olympic Games were organized at the AWF facilities in Warsaw. In 1988, the first Polish Special Olympic Winter Games were organized in Nowy Targ.

• Who leads the Special Olympics Poland?

  The President of the National Committee is Katarzyna Frank-Niemczycka. The National Committee is made up 13 members.The National Director is Piotr Mencina who oversees the National Office. Special Olympics Poland has been a member of the Polish Olympic Committee since 1990.

• What does the Special Olympics movement look like in Poland?

  Special Olympics organization in Poland has 18 Regional Departments in 564 Sections. Approximately 17,190 athletes and 1,612 coaches take part in training and competitions. The movement is supported by 1,114 family members and 4,500 volunteers. In Poland, around 200 Special Olympics competitions and events are held every year in 20 summer and winter disciplines.

• What are the regulations governing Special Olympics events?

  Special Olympics events are governed by Special Olympics Official Rules and International Sports Federation Rules – when they are not in contradiction to the regulations of Special Olympics.

• How are Special Olympics different from Paralympic Games?

  The difference between Special Olympics and Paralympic is that the first are organized for people with intellectual disabilities, while the latter are intended for people with physical disabilities. Furthermore, Special Olympics Summer Games take place one year prior to the Olympic Games, and Paralympic are organized directly after the Olympic Games.

• Is there any solution to the problem of different levels of athlete's ability?

  Special Olympics Rules provide for the divisioning of athletes depending on their ability levels in each discipline. In athletics, for example, 25 m Assisted Walk, Standing Long Jump and Softball Throw are available for people with low ability level, while Marathon, High Jump and Shot Put are offered for people with high ability level .

• What are the competition levels of Special Olympics?

  Special Olympics competitions have the following levels: world, continental, national, regional/divisional, local/sectional.