Special Olympics Connecticut Inc

YEAR ROUND SPORTS TRAINING AND COMPETITION STATEWIDE FOR PERSONS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES.

SPECIAL OLYMPICS CONNECTICUT (SOCT) PROVIDES YEAR-ROUND SPORTS TRAINING AND ATHLETIC COMPETITIONS, ALONG WITH HEALTH SCREENING AND WELLNESS/FITNESS PROGRAMS, FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES. ALTHOUGH THE CHALLENGES PRESENTED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC PERSISTED IN 2021, OUR ATHLETES CONTINUED TO REMAIN ACTIVE, ATHLETIC, AND SOCIALLY CONNECTED THROUGH SAFE, SECURE, VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON SPORTS AND FITNESS ACTIVITIES THAT SOCT OFFERRED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.IN 2021, WE RETURNED TO SOME IN-PERSON PRACTICES AND COMPETITIONS AFTER MORE THAN A YEAR OF VIRTUAL-ONLY ACTIVITIES. WE OFFERED A MODIFIED, IN-PERSON SUMMER GAMES EVENT. (SEE SCHEDULE O)IN-PERSON UNIFIED SPORTS FALL FESTIVAL AND UNIFIED SPORTS HOLIDAY SPORT CLASSIC COMPETITIONS FOLLOWED. WE SERVED 10,829 ATHLETES AND PARTNERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE THROUGH THESE EVENTS THAT WERE EXECUTED BY REMOTE HEADQUARTERS STAFF AND VOLUNTEER LOCAL CORDINATORS AND COACHES. IN AUGUST 2021, SOCT STARTED HYBRID WORKING MODEL OF IN-OFFICE SHARING/REMOTE WORKING. COACHES TRAININGS/EDUCATIONAL SERIES CONTINUED TO BE HELD VIRTUALLY: 4 ONLINE FITNESS CHALLENGES WERE HELD FOR ATHLETES; AND 26 OF VIRTUAL ZOOM ROOM ACTIVITIES WERE OFFERED DURING THIS CONTINUED PERIOD OF SOCIAL DISTANCING AND WERE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE ATHLETES A SAFE AND FUN WAY TO STAY ENGAGED WITH SOCT. WE TOOK GREAT PRIDE IN CONTRIBUTING TO THE LIFELONG PHYSICAL, SOCIAL, AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT OF INDIVIDUALS WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES IN THE STATE WHILE OFFERING MANY OTHER VITAL NON-COMPETITION PROGRAMS SUCH AS UNIFIED SPORTS FITNESS CLUBS, ATHLETE LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES, FIT5 HEALTHY LIFESTYLE PROGRAMMING, AND SCHOOL-BASED INCLUSSIONARY ACTIVITIES.

UNIFIED SPORTS FALL FESTIVAL - 882 ATHLETES AND PARTNERS FROM ACROSS THE STATE PARTICIPATED IN-PERSON ON SEPTEMBER 11-12TH IN FIVE SPORTS: BOCCE, CROQUET, GOLF, SOFTBALL, AND CORN HOLE. VIRTUAL FALL SPORTS ACTIVITIES WERE OFFERED THROUGHOUT THE END OF SEPTEMBER IN THE FOLLOWING SPORTS: WALK/RUN CHALLENGE, MINI GOLF, CORN HOLE SKILLS, BOCCE SKILLS, SOFTBALL SKILLS, FISHING, BASKETBALL SHOOTING CONTEST (FOUL AND 3 POINT SHOOTING)

SUMMER GAMES - 610 ATHLETES AND PARTNERS FROM ACROSS THE STATE PARTICIPATED IN A MODIFIED IN-PERSON SUMMER GAMES & VIRTUAL SUMMER GAMES ACTIVITIES. EVENTS WERE HELD ON JUNE 18-20TH AND INCLUDED FIVE SPORTS: ATHLETICS, CYCLING, SOCCER, SWIMMING, AND TENNIS. 12 VIRTUAL ACTIVITIES IN FOUR SUMMER GAMES SPORTS; ATHLETICS, CYCLING, SOCCER AND TENNIES WERE ALSO HELD. OUR HEALTHY ATHLETES SCREENING WERE SUSPENDED FOR 2021 DUE TO GOVERNMENT, STATE, AND SPECIAL OLYMPICS INTERNATIONAL RESTRICTIONS AND GUIDELINES REGARDING IN-PERSON GATHERINGS DUE TO COVID-19.

ON NOVEMBER 20TH WE HELD OUR IN-PERSON HOLIDAY SPORTS CLASSIC WHERE 524 ATHLETES AND UNIFIED PARTNERS PARTICIPATED IN THE FOLLOWING: BASKETBALL, VOLLEYBALL, AND POWER LIFTING. VIRTUAL BOWLING COMPETITION WAS HELD WHERE TEAMS PRACTICED INDIVIDUALLY AND SUBMITTED TOP SCORES.IN 2021, HEALTHY ATHLETES SCREENING WERE MODIFIED OR RESTRICTED DUE TO GOVERNMENT, STATE, AND SPECIAL OLYMPICS INTERNATIONAL RESTRICTIONS AND GUIDELINES REGARDING IN-PERSON GATHERINGS. AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO MEETING IN-PERSON, ATHLETES WERE ENCOURAGED TO STAY ACTIVE AND FIT BY PARTICIPATING IN VIRTUAL ACTIVITIES AND OFFERING ENCOURAGEMENT TO EACH OTHER THROUGH OUR SOCTFIT5 FACEBOOK GROUP. PROGRAMMING OFFERED THE MEMBERS OF OUR SOCTFIT5 GROUP INCLUDED EXERCISE SESSIONS, COOKING CLASSES, AND VIRTUAL FITNESS CHALLENGES AIMED AT KEEPING ATHLETES ENGAGED AND INTERACTIVE WITH THEIR PEERS, MOTIVATED TO KEEP MOVING, AND ADHERING TO A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE. MORE THAN 680 MEMBERS STRONG, THE SOCTFIT5 GROUP HELPED KEEP ATHLETES FROM FEELING ISOLATED AND DISCONNECTED AS THEY CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE THE AFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.