Special Olympics Arkansas – Russellville

Their mission is to give these individuals 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. The program is supported by individual donations, private and corporate sponsorships, state appropriations, grants, and special fundraising events. Special Olympics Arkansas offers a variety of Olympic-type sports, including track and field, swimming, softball, volleyball, unified flag football, powerlifting, bocce, and cycling, as well as basketball, bowling, and floor hockey. The organization is proud to have access to the finest national training plan and offers certification in Special Olympics coaching for those interested in becoming a Nationally Certified Special Olympics Coach. Their goal is to properly train their special athletes by training their coaches first, with training workshops held each year in all areas of the state. The success of Special Olympics Arkansas has been made possible by the love and dedication of many volunteers who know that individuals with intellectual disabilities have important contributions to make to society. They serve approximately 19,500 individuals with intellectual disabilities in Arkansas, which is divided into 17 areas, each headed by a volunteer Area Director and various volunteers serving on team management committees.