To provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills,and friendship with their families, other Special Olympic athletes, and the community.

Description:
Special Olympics offers year round training and competition in nine (9) Olympic type sports. Participation is open to anyone ages 8 and up with an intellectual disability diagnosed by a medical professional or closely related developmental disabilities. Programs are designed to serve all ability levels. Athletics; Aquatics; Basketball; Bowling; LongDistance Running and Walking; Floor Hockey; Softball; Volleyball and bocce.

History:
Eunice Kennedy Shriver began Special Olympics in the early 1960s. Pennsylvania became involved in May 1970. Berks County, today, has over 700 athletes competing in nine (9) sports year round.

Contact people:

Deb Albitz, County Manager, (610) 927-2699, (email) Jonathan Rodriguez, Volunteer Coordinator, (610) 376-0692, (email)

Address:

PO Box 939 Reading, PA 19603

Web Site: http://www.sopbc.org