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Empowering Athletes to Be Leaders

Through sport, Special Olympics empowers people with intellectual disabilities to achieve unimaginable joy, acceptance and success. As their lives begin to open up, athletes seek new challenges and new ways to utilize their experiences and the lessons they’ve learned.

Special Olympics Athlete Leadership Programs allow athletes to explore opportunities for greater participation as coaches, officials, team captains, spokespeople and Board and committee members.

These leadership roles give maturing athletes a voice in shaping the Special Olympics movement and a chance to spread the word about the remarkable transformations Special Olympics can bring to individuals and families. Athlete Leadership Programs provide a way for athletes to showcase talents and interests that may have gone unnoticed.

Public speaking is one way.  Special Olympics Virginia athletes can get involved in the Special Olympics Virginia Global Messenger program. Here athletes learn presentation skills while carrying the message of Special Olympics, as well as the courage and dignity of their fellow athletes, to the general public.    

Athletes who have an interest in influencing programming and policy can serve on the Special Olympics Virginia Board of Directors, where they can share their perspectives on competitions and their wisdom about how to spend Special Olympics resources to help set priorities based on what athletes want.

For more information on Athlete Leadership opportunities, e-mail Dave Pawlowski, Vice President of Program, or call him at 804-726-3034 or 800.932.4653 x 3034.  For more details on our Global Messenger program, visit our Global Messenger section.