Special Olympics with The Arc of Fort Bend County

"Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt." This is the oath recited by Special Olympics athletes before each competition. Special Olympics is a year-round sports training program for people with an intellectual or developmental disability, from 8 years of age through adulthood.

The Arc of Fort Bend County, headquartered in Sugar Land, supports a Special Olympics delegation of 140 adult athletes who participate in aquatics, softball, volleyball, basketball, bowling, track and field, and, coming soon, bocce ball. Volunteer coaches and their assistants run the sports activities while The Arc provides financial and logistical support for practice venues, uniforms, equipment, transportation to area and statewide tournaments, and hotel and meal expenses for athletes and volunteers.

Our teams have regular practices led by trained volunteer coaches and helpers. Special Olympics and The Arc provide all training. Each sports team practices a minimum of 9 weeks prior to competing in local scrimmages and at the Gulf Coast Area tournament for their sport. Three times a year, athletes may attend a statewide competition for their sport, if there are enough coaches and volunteers for each team.

In February, our volleyball teams and bowlers compete in Austin at “Winter Games”. Basketball teams and track and field athletes compete at “Summer Games” in Arlington over Memorial Day weekend. “Fall Classic” State Games for softball are played in College Station in October. The 2010 aquatics statewide competition will be in Pearland for the first time.

Because Special Olympics is a volunteer-based organization, The Arc delegation is always in need of volunteer coaches so that all athletes who want to train and compete will be able to participate. If you are interested in coaching, contact Margo Pasko at The Arc of Fort Bend County: mapasko@arcoffortbend.org or 281-494-5928. We’d love to have you join our team!