Here’s two throwback pictures from FIVE years ago at the 2011 World Games in Athens, Greece. The next World Games will be in Austria in 2017!
Check out the Austria 2017 website for more information about the games.
Throwback Thursday
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Monthly Archives: June 2016
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Special Olympics Louisiana has joined LinkedIn.
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Camp Shriver: Bayouland
Camp Shriver Bayouland begins Tuesday, June 28, 2016, and will continue through Thursday, June 30 , 2016. Athletes and partners from the Bayouland area come together at Lakewood Elementary for a few days of fun activities. Athletes of all skill levels are attending. Camp Shriver brings together people with and without intellectual disabilities for training and competition. Athletes learn new sports skills, improve individual sport performance, participate in individual and team sports, build friendships and have fun with camp volunteers.
Spread the Word to End the Word
WHAT?
Spread the Word to End the Word is an ongoing effort to raise the consciousness of society about the dehumanizing and hurtful effects of the word “retard(ed)” and encourage people to pledge to stop using the R-word. The campaign is intended to engage school organizations and communities to rally and pledge their support in helping to build communities of inclusion and acceptance for all people.
WHO?
Spread the Word to End the Word was founded by college students Soeren Palumbo (Notre Dame 2011) and Tim Shriver (Yale 2011) in 2009, and continues to be led by passionate young people, along with Special Olympics athletes and Best Buddies participants across the United States and in many other parts of the world.
WHY?
Respectful and inclusive language is essential to the movement for the dignity and humanity of people with intellectual disabilities. However, much of society does not recognize the hurtful, dehumanizing and exclusive effects of the R-word.
HOW?
Click here to learn how you can Spread the Word to End the Word
SO College in LA
SO College connects college students and individuals with intellectual disabilities through sports to build friendships and to help lead the social justice movement of Special Olympics. Created by college students for college students, the network seeks the membership of campuses that seek the common goals of enhancing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities and building a more accepting world for all.
SO College programs are made up of three core elements: Inclusive Sports, Youth Leadership, and opportunities for Full Campus Involvement. Together these components can help students work for and with Special Olympics athletes to help transform school campuses into communities of acceptance and respect.
1) INCLUSIVE SPORTS:
Start an inclusive sports team comprised of college students and Special Olympics athletes; or host a local or state level Special Olympics event.
2) YOUTH LEADERSHIP:
SO College can function as a student-led club that is fully recognized by your school; or students can be a part of the Games Organizing Committee for the local or state Special Olympics.
3) CAMPUS INVOLVEMENT:
Host an awareness campaign, such as Spread the Word the End the Word®; or invite students to become Fans in the Stands at local Special Olympics games and cheer on the athletes.
Louisiana’s Current S.O. Colleges
- McNeese University
- Louisiana State University
- Tulane University
- Southeastern Louisiana University
- University of Louisiana of Lafayette
- Fletcher Technical Community College
- Southern University of New Orleans
- Northwestern State University
SOLA Athletes Participate in Hit-a-Home-Run for Special Olympics
The third annual Hit-a-Home-Run for Special Olympics Mississippi took place on June 21, 2016 at Trustmark Park, home of the Double-A Atlanta Braves baseball team. This year, a Unified team of Mississippians played against a Unified “Southern League” team of athletes from Florida, Alabama and Louisiana. The Southern League team, including Louisiana, took home the gold! All three SOLA athletes, Aaron Rhodes, Logan Dahlquist, and Mike Thibodeaux, were from Team UnLimited, a unified softball team from the Acadiana Area. SOLA athletes were joined by Coach Mike Rhodes with his wife, Kathy, and two other coaches, Bekah Russo and Brodie Russo.
Each team included 8 Unified Partners composed of local/state/regional celebrities and 7 Athletes. Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant and athletes Michael Lewis (former New Orleans Saint); Sarah Thomas (NFL ref); Steve Avery and Marquis Grissom (former Atlanta Braves) took the field alongside Special Olympics athletes. Everyone had a blast and the Southern team took home the gold! The Mississippi Braves also extended an invitation for all the athletes and chaperones playing the game to be a part of their All-Star week.
A huge thank you to Special Olympics Mississippi and all those who made this event possible for including Louisiana in the event!
Thank you to our sponsors!
A HUGE thank you to our sponsors for their continued support of individuals with intellectual disabilities across the state of Louisiana.
Mission Partners
Program Partner
Champion Sponsor
| Law Enforcement Torch Run Sponsors | State Games Sponsors |
| Platinum Sponsor -Winn Dixie |
|
| Medallion Sponsor -Valero St. Charles Refinery |
Medallion Sponsor -Knights of Columbus |
| Gold Medal Sponsors -AT&T |
Gold Medal Sponsors -Amerigroup -The Rotary Club of Lafayette South |
| Silver Medal Sponsors -Hammond Smokin’ Blues and BBQ Challenge -Louisiana Masons -Marshall’s Stores |
Silver Medal Sponsors -Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana -ExxonMobil -The P&G Fund of The Greater Cincinnati Foundation -The Fred B. & Ruth B. Zigler Foundation -Smitty’s Supply |
| Bronze Medal Sponsors -IREM – Chapter 55 -Louisiana Sheriff’s Association -LA Lottery -Louisiana Wildlife Agents Association -McCranie Sistrunk Anzlemo Hardy McDaniel & Welch LLC |
Bronze Medal Sponsors -Acadiana Dodge -The Dow Chemical Company -Team Mattel -Williams Companies |
~Happy Tuesday~
Nothing is impossible. The word itself says ‘I’m possible!’
-Audrey Hepburn
Camp Shriver: Shreveport
Camp Shriver Shreveport begins Tuesday, June 21, 2016, and will continue through Thursday, June 23 , 2016. Athletes and partners from the Northwest Area come together at the SPAR Recreation Center for a few days of fun activities. Athletes of all skill levels are attending. Camp Shriver brings together people with and without intellectual disabilities for training and competition. Athletes learn new sports skills, improve individual sport performance, participate in individual and team sports, build friendships and have fun with camp volunteers.
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