Special Olympics
by Lorine Parks
Ruri Pierre, one of the founding members of the Special Olympics Los Angeles Lions Club of Whittier, showed us some of the year-round sports programs for Special Olympians. Special Olympics Southern California’s mission is to enrich the lives of more than 28,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities and their communities in Southern California through sports, education, and athlete health. All the programs offered in Southern California provide athletes with the chance to develop physical fitness, sports skills, social skills and self-esteem.
Pierre was named Lion of the Year in 2012 and also received a special recognition at the Whittier City Council. “Needless to say, the amount of time behind the scenes is immeasurable," said Whittier Mayor Owen Newcomer. "On behalf of the city, congratulations and thank you for all you do at the city and with the Special Olympics."
"Ruri personally knows the athletes by name and is admired by all athletes," said Marvin Byrne, president of the SOLA Lions Club of Whittier. "When they see her in the community or at a sporting event, they all have smiles on their faces and approach her with hugs," he said. "She is truly loved by everyone."
SOLA, a nonprofit organization, is a Specialty Lions Club dedicated solely to serving the Special Olympics. SOLA is the second Lions Club in the world to serve the athletes of Special Olympics.
Pierre's focus has been to meet and organize sporting events with California Special Olympics, South East Los Angeles Region, for their C and D teams. These events include softball, bowling, basketball and aquatics, which are all held in Whittier.
In October Del Rio Lanes on Florence Avenue in Downey hosted a bowling tournament for Los Angeles Region Athletes, for Southeast LA Special Olympics. Bowling is a Special Olympics sport that is growing in popularity due to its leisurely nature, as well as its competitive spirit.
While some modifications are made for athletes with forms of physical disabilities, the majority of athletes involved compete using the same rules as athletes on professional tours. Bowling teams are grouped in divisions by the athlete's age, gender, and ability. They may choose among a number of different events, to include singles events for both women and men, doubles, and mixed-doubles. Athletes with physical disabilities may participate in either assisted or unassisted ramp bowling.
Bowling ramps are used when an athlete does not have the physical ability to roll the bowling ball with their hand or hands. The ramps are comprised of a two-piece metal unit, with one stand and one sloped piece. The stand is between twenty-four and twenty-eight inches in height, and twenty-four or twenty-five inches wide. Athletes who use bowling ramps or other assistive devices can only be placed in separate divisions for singles competition; all other tournament rules apply to athletes in the ramp divisions.
In addition to Pierre's work for the city of Whittier directing staff in the recreation therapy program, senior services and the Special Olympics aquatics and bowling programs, she volunteers after work for the SOLA Lions Club of Whittier. "I'm a recreational therapist," she said, "so part of our job as intern was to provide Special Olympics programs."
Ruri is also Board Chair of REACH, which stands for Resource for Education, Advocacy, Communication and Housing. Headquartered in Santa Fe Springs, REACH’s mission is to transform the lives of people with developmental and intellectual disabilities through innovative education, communication and housing services.
To ensure that athletes of all abilities be given an equal chance to succeed and thrive at their chosen sport, athletes in competitions are matched up with others of the same gender, age, and competitive ability.
Competitions are modified in each sport. The range of events is intended to offer competition opportunities for athletes of all abilities. For example, GOLF becomes an individual Skill Contest. Athletes train and compete in six skills similar to on-course play, including a wood shot, an iron shot, a pitch shot, a chip shot, a long putt and a short putt.
For Unified Sports® Team Play Competition, a nine-hole alternate shot format teams a Special Olympics player with a non-Special Olympics player of more advanced skill and knowledge. Dedicated to promoting social inclusion through shared sports training and competition experiences, Unified Sports joins people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team. Having sports in common is one more way to eliminate false preconceptions and ideas and create a feeling of acceptance.
FLOOR HOCKEY is adapted from the games of ice hockey and ringette. Floor Hockey is played in a rink, but the surface is made of wood or concrete, not ice. The athletes use wooden poles (without blades) as the sticks and the pucks are large felt discs with an open center.
SOFTBALL is an exciting team sport in Special Olympics. Athletes play slow-pitch softball, which involves two teams of 10 athletes each. Special Olympics offers individual skills competition to allow athletes to train and compete in basic softball skills. The development of these key skills is necessary prior to advancing to team competition. These skills include base running, fielding and throwing.
TRACK AND FIELD, also called “Athletics,” is one of the most popular Special Olympics sports, and offers a wide range of events, from the 100 meters and hurdle events to the marathon, from the high jump and the long jump to the shot put, and from the relays to the wheelchair events.
BASKETBALL is a favorite among Special Olympics athletes. In addition to team competition, Special Olympics Basketball also offers individual skills competition, which allows athletes to train and compete in basic basketball skills. The development of these key skills is necessary prior to advancing to team play. These events include target pass, ten-meter dribble and spot shot.
BASKETBALL is a favorite among Special Olympics athletes. In addition to team competition, Special Olympics Basketball also offers individual skills competition, which allows athletes to train and compete in basic basketball skills. The development of these key skills is necessary prior to advancing to team play. These events include target pass, ten-meter dribble and spot shot.
Special Olympics Unified Sports creates unique teammate bonds through sports experiences, just like any other team, and the participants compete in Special Olympics competitions. More than half a million people worldwide take part in Unified Sports, breaking down stereotypes about people with intellectual disabilities in a fun way.
The SoCal Summer Games will be held this year at Cal State Long Beach, the second week in June. Summer Games attracts more than 1,100 athletes from across Southern California who will compete for gold, silver, and bronze medals and ribbons. The Games features six summer sports — athletics (track & field), basketball, bocce, golf, gymnastics, and swimming.