DepEd Division 1 holds 2019 SPED Olympics

The 2019 Division 1 SPED Olympics, held on November 6 at the Narciso

Ramos Sports and Civic Center (NRSCC) gathered over 600 kids with special
needs.

Special Olympics is a global organization that works with hundreds

of thousands of volunteers and coaches each year to help athletes with
intellectual disabilities. The number of people with and without
intellectual impairments who participate in the Special Olympics has
grown steadily since its founding in 1968, yet the unmet demand to reach
more people with intellectual disabilities is astonishing.

Interested volunteers meet the children at the local level. That's

when people's perspectives begin to shift, and the transformational
miracle begins.

Governor Amado I. Espino III, the governor of Pangasinan, attended

the opening ceremony and praised the patience and affection of the
instructors and parents of differently-abled children. “It will take a
lifetime sacrifice to take care of these children who have special
needs,” the governor stated, assuring parents and teachers that the
provincial government under his leadership is always ready to assist and
support all initiatives and projects aimed at SPED students.

Special activities held inside or within the NRSCC gymnasium

included poster-making, Zumba dance competitions, and voice solo singing
competitions. Athletics/runs, throws, and jumps were among the outdoor
events performed at the Olympics.

The provincial chief executive said that a unique location in the

new Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) building
adjacent to the PDRRMO will be earmarked for the special sector as a
demonstration of solidarity. “Rest confident of the provincial
government's full support,” the governor stated, emphasizing that
exceptional children deserve extra attention.
 For children with intellectual impairments, Special Olympics
provides year-round sports instruction and athletic competition in a
range of Olympic-style activities. These activities provide individuals
with ongoing opportunities to improve their physical health, show
bravery, feel joy, and share their gifts, skills, and camaraderie.

Participants came from five clusters notably: Cluster 1 (Infanta,

Dasol, Burgos, Mabini); Cluster 2 (Agno, Anda, Bani, Bolinao); Cluster
3 (Sual, Labrador, Bugallon, Lingayen, Binmaley); Cluster 4 (Calasiao,
Basista, Mapandan, Sta. Barbara, Malasiqui, Bayambang); Cluster 5
(Urbiztondo, Mangatarem, Aguilar).

In more than 170 nations, the Special Olympics organization supports

over five million participants, one million coaches and volunteers, over
100,000 tournaments yearly, and 32 Olympic-style sports programs.

For those with intellectual disability, Special Olympics provides

meaningful training and competing possibilities.

"What do all children want?" The opportunity to kick a ball, throw

it properly, and celebrate with family members. What are the aspirations
of every child with intellectual disabilities? The organization rightly
concluded, "The exact same thing."

References:

- https://punch.dagupan.com/news/2019/11/deped-division-1-holds-
2019-sped-olympics/
- https://www.philstar.com/lifestyle/health-and-
family/2019/10/01/1956233/why-special-olympics-philippines-
special
- https://www.specialolympics.org/programs/asia-pacific/pilipinas