BM Disability and Sports

The Special Olympics provide all year round sports training and athletic events in various sports for individuals of all ages with intellectual disabilities. There has been ongoing controversy for years regarding whether or not individuals with intellectual disabilities should be integrated into playing in the Paralympic games or if they should just remain a part of the Special Olympics. This controversy is unfortunately due to multiple scandals of athletes faking intellectual disabilities in order to participate in the Paralympic games.  There have been ongoing requests by athletes with intellectual disabilities wanting to qualify to be able to participate in the Paralympic Games rather than just the Special Olympics. Even though the Special Olympics give athletes the opportunity to compete in the sport of their choice, it is not to the same magnitude of the Paralympic Games. The Special Olympics are ongoing year round, while the Paralympics are more exclusive as they run parall...

Participating in a sport has so many amazing and potentially life changing benefits. Sports give people the opportunity to engage in physical activity which has an extremely positive long term impact on your physical and mental health. According to the CDC , engaging in regular physical activity like participation in sports can improve cognition skills, improve sleep,  and reduce the risk of anxiety and depression. Physical activity also helps people manage their weight which can reduce their risk to other weight related health issues. Although physical activity in general has lifelong positive impacts, participating in organized sport provides individuals with structure and community in a way that independent activity does not. According to the National Institute of Health , organized sports participation has direct links to improved psychological wellbeing, self esteem, emotional stability, stress resilience, and social integration. Sports also force participants to use cognitive...