Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools® builds on Special Olympics’ values, principles, practices, experiences and impacts to shape a generation that welcomes everyone.
Our Goal: The Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools program is aimed at promoting social inclusion through intentionally planned and implemented activities affecting systems-wide change. With sports as the foundation, the three component model offers a unique combination of effective activities that equip young people with tools and training to create sports, classroom and school climates of acceptance. These are school climates where students with disabilities feel welcome and are routinely included in, and feel a part of, all activities, opportunities and functions. (Special Olympics.org)
Pennsbury High School is a Special Olympics Unified Champion school aimed at promoting social inclusion through intentionally planned and implemented activities affecting systems-wide change. With sports as the foundation, the three component model offers a unique combination of activities that equip young people with tools and training to create sports, classroom and school climates of acceptance.
Unified Bocce- (Winter)
Bocce is an Italian game. The basic principle of the sport is to roll a bocce ball closest to the target ball, which is called a palina. Bocce as a Special Olympics sport provides people with special needs the opportunity to have social contact, develop physically and to gain self-confidence. Next to soccer and golf, bocce is the third most participated sport in the world.
Unified Track- (Spring)
Unified Track and Field is offered from March to May. Teams practice a minimum of twice a week and participate in three competitions. A team consists of 12-30 athletes, proportional number of students with and without intellectual disabilities. On a Unified Track and Field team, students with and without intellectual disabilities compete alongside each. Each team member competes in one field event, one track event and one relay. Competition divisions are based on similar ability levels to ensure meaningful involvement.
Official events include:
Track Events | Field Events |
100 meters | Shot Put |
400 meters | Running Long Jump |
800 Meters | Mini-Jav |
4 x 400 meter relay | |
4 x 100 meter relay | |
Unified Sports enables Special Olympics athletes to:
- Learn new sports
- Develop higher-level sports skills
-Have new competition experiences
-Experience meaningful inclusion (each athlete is ensured of playing a valued role on the team)
-Socialize with peers and form friendships
-Participate in their communities leading to choices outside of Special Olympics
For more information regarding Unified Sports, please contact Lou Sudholz at [email protected]