Conquer fitness enfield8/18/2023 ![]() Our Fit5 program is designed to educate athletes about the impact fitness, nutrition and hydration have on overall athletic performance. Each included a pedometer, water bottle, resistance bands, an eight-week workout program guide, activity calendar and goal tracker and backpack. In addition, we distributed 227 at-home fitness kits to athletes. These activities included Zumba classes, strength training workouts, sports-specific workouts, walking challenges, nutrition education, yoga and meditation and healthy cooking demonstrations. During the Challenges, live workouts and fitness activities that could be done at home were presented. Through the SOCTFit5 Facebook Group and a weekly newsletter, we offered three eight-week Fitness Challenges to keep athletes motivated, active and connected. By the end of the year, the Group was over 650 members strong including athletes, partners, friends and family! In mid-March of 2020, we created the SOCTFit5 Facebook Group, designed to provide athletes with tools to stay active and healthy at home while encouraging them to continue training in the absence of practices and competitions. Whole-school engagement in inclusive activities Special Olympics Unified Sports® practices and events What distinguishes these schools is that they have: Where safety measures and social distancing could be effectively enforced, several coaches held interscholastic kickball games - at Oxford, Wilby (Waterbury) and Wolcott High Schools.Ĭonnecticut continues to be a leader and model of success with its ranks of Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools. To address this, deserving schools received recognition through a virtual Michaels Cup Awards Ceremony and presentations were made to schools with the most dynamic and impactful Unified Sports® programs during the year in ways that may have lacked the revelry, but didn’t lack the heart, spirit and celebration that’s synonymous with Special Olympics events.Ī lively, interactive High School Leadership Summit took place via Zoom in November and fitness challenges that could be completed by students who were able to attend their school and those learning at home, alike, were rolled out for three consecutive months. As the pandemic caused separation and isolation - inspiring a sense of unity and belonging was more necessary than ever. With the challenges presented by the global pandemic that came about in March, the introduction of virtual activities to keep students engaged and connected soon followed. In January, we held a well-attended middle school leadership summit that featured motivational speakers and student-led breakout sessions to foster the exchange of ideas and activities that inspire inclusion. Special Olympics is here to stay as we continue to create a revolution that demands acceptance, understanding, respect - and inclusion - for people with and without intellectual disabilities - to create a more compassionate and peaceful world where everyone has a chance to shine. To everyone who supported us in 2020, thank you for standing by us at a time when we needed your belief and investment in us the most. For many, Special Olympics is a lifeline that gives them hope, surrounds them with friends and people who care about and love them, allows them to receive healthcare that would otherwise be out of reach and lets them know that anything is possible and that their opportunities should be limitless! It was heartbreaking to hear of the depression, illness, loneliness and fear that some of our athletes were feeling but energizing and fulfilling to hear what their connection to Special Olympics has meant and continues to mean to them. We also created the SOCT Zoom Room to offer all athletes a place to meet up for events like dances, bingo, art classes, talent shows and trivia contests.We even introduced new sports like Hip Hop Dance and Corn Hole! Limited in-person events were held, including some bowling practices, croquet and golf skills competition, but only where and when social distancing and safety protocols could be strictly enforced. We held four state games, three of which were mostly virtual, to motivate athletes and keep them moving with a variety of sports activities they could complete in the safety of their own backyard or neighborhood and put together video celebrations to honor their achievements.Established a SOCTFit5 Facebook group, more than 600 members strong, which offers live workouts, fitness challenges, resources for good nutrition and a social network that provides athletes with encouragement and recognition from their peers and friends.With a year marked by challenges, isolation and uncertainty brought on by a global pandemic, we at Special Olympics Connecticut are proud of the way our athletes, coaches, volunteers, supporters, Board Members and staff have remained positive, resilient, dedicated and connected in more ways than we could have imagined possible. ![]()
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