Page 1 of 11
European Journal of Business &
Social Sciences
Available at https://ejbss.org/
ISSN: 2235-767X
Volume 07 Issue 02
February 2019
Available online: https://ejbss.org/ P a g e | 507
Awareness of Special Olympics among Parents of Children with Mental
Retardation in Haryana.
*Mr. Sandeep Kumar
M.A. Public. Administration
M .Ed. (Special Education)
Abstract: This study aimed to investigate “Awareness of Special Olympics among parents
of Children with Mental Retardation”. Sample sizes of 200 parents were selected from special
school, in Haryana. A questionnaire was administered on 200 parents. The scale has 4
sections. A t-test was calculated to find out whether there is a significant difference on
awareness level parents towards Special Olympics with respect to type of gender, age, and
educational qualification. The result of the study indicated that average of awareness of
Special Olympics. The result indicates that there was no significant difference between
parents of children with mental retardation with respect to gender, age and educational
qualification. The finding of the study revealed that there is a need for developing favorable
awareness of Special Olympics towards the parents of children with mental retardation.
Awareness programs on Special Olympics should be conducted.
Key words: - Special Olympics, Mental Retardation, Oath, Awareness and Parents.
Introduction:- The mission of special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training
and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with
intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness,
demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship
with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community. It is the Oath of
Special Olympics- “Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.” And
oath for coaches- “In the name of all coaches, we shall follow written and verbal instructions
of Special Olympics officials at all times, have our athletes at the appropriate events and
activities at the proper time and abide by the rules and policies, in the spirit of
sportsmanship.”
Page 2 of 11
European Journal of Business &
Social Sciences
Available at https://ejbss.org/
ISSN: 2235-767X
Volume 07 Issue 02
February 2019
Available online: https://ejbss.org/ P a g e | 508
Who can participate in Special Olympics?
Persons are eligible for Special Olympics competition provided they are eight years of age or
older and have indentified by an agency or professional as having intellectual disabilities.
Athletes who have physical disabilities but who do not have intellectual disabilities are not
eligible for Special Olympics. Games is defined as exercise in voluntary central systems in
which is a contest between powers defined by rules in order to produce outcome (Avedon and
Sutton Mith 1971 ).
Olympic Games: - The Olympic Games is an international multi sport event established
of both summer and winter games. There have been two generations of the Olympic Games
held at Olympia, Greece. The second, known as the modern Olympic Games, were first
revived with a modern international Olympic games held in 1859 in Athens, Greece. The first
modern international was sponsored by the Greek philanthropist international Olympic
committee. The modern Olympics feature the summer games and winter games. The
international Olympic committee (IOC) was founded in 1894 on the initiative of French
nobleman, Pierre freed, Baron De Coubertin his vision was to bring together amateur athletes
from around the world to compete in a variety of events. The IOC has become the governing
body of the “Olympic Movement”, a conglomeration of sporting federations that are
responsible for the organization of the Games. The Games were held every four years,
Known as an “Olympiad”.
Special Olympics:- The revival of the Olympic games began in the mid-19th century;
multi sport events with titles such as “Olympic” or Olympian” Games has been held as far
back as the 16th century, an Olympian class was begun at much Winlock in shoeshine,
England in 1850. Which was renamed Winlock Olympian games in 1859 and continues to
this day as the Winlock Olympian society annual games? A national Olympic games in Great
Britain was organized by, Dr. William penny Brookes, at crystal palace in London, in
1866.Special Olympics offer year round training and competition in 30 Olympic type sports
to children and adult with mental retardation. Participation is open to anyone ages eight and
up and programmers are designed to serve all ability level. The main aim of the Special
Olympics is to provide equal opportunities to the persons with disability and to develop the
Page 3 of 11
European Journal of Business &
Social Sciences
Available at https://ejbss.org/
ISSN: 2235-767X
Volume 07 Issue 02
February 2019
Available online: https://ejbss.org/ P a g e | 509
physical fitness, social and communication and moral development. Special Olympics is an
international nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering individuals with intellectual
disabilities to become physically fit, productive and respected members of society through
sports training and competition special Olympics offers children and adults with intellectual
disabilities year round training and competition in 30 Olympic type summer and winter
sports, special Olympics currently serves 2.5 million people with intellectual disabilities in
more than 200 programs in over 180 countries. Today, Special Olympics stand as a leader in
the field of intellectual disability. It is a truly global movement, with more than 500,000
athletes in china, Motha, than 2, 10,000 in India, almost 5, 50,000 in the United States more
than 600 in Afghanistan and 4400 athletes in Rwanda. The first international special
Olympics games were held in Chicago in 1968 Anne mcglone burke, a physical education
teacher with the Chicago park district, began with the idea for a one time Olympic style
athletic competition for people with special need, head of the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr.
Foundation, to fund the event. Shriver encouraged burkes to expand on the idea and the JPK
foundation provided a grant of 25,000 more than 1,000 athletes from across the United States
and Canada participated. At the Games, shivers sis term, the late rosemary Kennedy, had an
intellectual disability and is often credited as Shriver’s inspiration to help grow the Special
Olympics. May 200 the first ever global athlete congress takes place in Hague. The
Netherlands, 60 athletes from every region of the world comes together to discuss the future
of the Special Olympics movement. Despite difference in language, culture age and gender,
these athletes are able to discuss topics, challenge existing ideals and vote on new resolution.
Number of game (Summer Sports):- Aquatic, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball,
Bocce, Cycling, Equestrian, Floor Hockey, Football, Tennis, Golf, Gymnastics, Judo, Power
Lifting, Roller Skating, Volleyball, Bowling, Team Hand Ball, Table Tennis, Softball,
Sailing. Some are the winter games likes as -Alpine skiing, Cross country skiing, Figure
skating, Snow shoeing, Speed skating. Demonstration sports - MATP, Cricket, Dragon- Lion, Dragon Boat. Motor activity training programe-This event was designed for
athlete with severe intellectual Disabilities with the age of 8 or above. Special Olympics
world winter games- Alpine skiing, Cross country skiing, Floor Hockey, Snowboarding,
Figure Skating, Speed Skating.
