About Special Olympics World Games
- The Indian contingent ended its successful Special Olympic World Games 2023 campaign in Berlin, Germany with 202 medals including 76 gold medals, 75 silver, and 51 bronze medals.
- It is also known as Special Olympiad, an international sporting event for participants with intellectual disabilities, organised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recognised Special Olympics organization.
- It takes place every two years and alternates between the Summer and Winter Games, a schedule similar to the Olympics and Paralympics.
- Special Olympics athletes can compete in 32 Olympic-style summer or winter sports. The athletes are adults and children with intellectual disabilities who can range from gifted, world-class competitors to average athletes to those with limited physical ability.
- It’s a fundamental rule of Special Olympics competitions that athletes are matched up according to their ability and age.
- The first International Special Olympics Summer Games were held in Chicago, US, in 1968, while the first International Special Olympics Winter Games were held in February 1977 in Colorado, US. In 1991.
- The name was officially changed from International Special Olympics Summer/Winter Games to Special Olympics World Summer/Winter Games.
- Berlin, Germany hosted World Summer Games, in 2023.
- The motto of the athletes of Special Olympics Germany is: “Nothing about us without us having a say.”
About Intellectual disability (or ID)
- It is a term used when a person has certain limitations in cognitive functioning and skills, including conceptual, social and practical skills, such as language, social and self-care skills.
- An individual has intellectual disability if he or she meets three criteria:
- IQ is below 70.
- There are significant limitations in adaptive behavior in one or more of the following areas: conceptual, social or practical skills (skills that are needed to live, work, and play in the community).
- The condition manifests itself before the age of 22.
