Chapter 4 Physical education and sports for cwsn

Special Olympic

Special Olympics is the world's largest sports organization for children and adults
with physical disabilities and intellectual disabilities.

 It is providing year-round training and competitions to Unified Sports partners in 172

countries and 5 million athletes.
 Special Olympics competitions are organized every day, all around the world including local,
regional competitions and national, in total more than 100,000 events per year.Similar
to International Paralympic Committee, the Special Olympics organization is acknowledged
by the International Olympic Committee. on February 15, 1988. International headquarters
are in Washington, D.C.
 However, unlike the Paralympic Games, Special Olympics World Games are not organized in
the same year or in coexistence with the Olympic Games.

 Paralympic Games are one of the major international multi-sport events for the athletes with
numerous disabilities like athletes with blindness, cerebral palsy, mobility disabilities and
amputations. Paralympic Games are held every four years succeeding the Olympic Games.
These games are regulated by the International Paralympic Committee. Paralympic Games
were held in Rome in 1960 for the very first time. An important point to note is that the
Paralympic word was officially utilized in 1988 Summer Olympic Games which were held in
Seoul. The first Winter Paralympic Games were conducted in 1976 in Sweden.

 The opening ceremony of the games start with the hoisting of the host country's flag and
rendition of its national anthem. After which, the athletes march past into the stadium based
on their nations Alphabetically. Whereas on conclusion of all the sports events, the closing
ceremony begins. Where the athletes of each country follow the flag bearers from each
participating country enter stadium. The flag is taken down and flame is extinguished.

 The games are governed by International Paralympic Committee. it is a governing body of

the Paralympic movement and it also serves as the International Federation for nine sports for
which it supervises
 Deaflympics: - The Deaflympics are more than just the world's second oldest multiple sports
games after the Olympics. They are also among the world's fastest growing sports events.
Deaflympics: The Deaflympics (previously called World Games for the Deaf, and International
Games for the Deaf) are an International Olympic Committee (IOC)-sanctioned event at which
deaf athletes compete at an elite level. However, unlike the athletes in other IOC-sanctioned
events (i.e., the Olympics, the Paralympics, and the Special Olympics), the Deaflympians cannot
be guided by sounds (i.e., the starter's guns, bullhorn commands or referee whistles). The
games have been organized by the “Comite International des Sports des Sourds (CISS)
"The International Committee of Sports for the Deaf") since the first event. The Deaflympics are
held every 4 years. The biggest difference between the Deaflympics, Olympics, Paralympics, and
other main sporting events is the competitors cannot start a race with a bell, whistle, bull horn or
cannot hear a referee call the play. Formal international competition in deaf sport began with the
1924 Paris Silent Games, organized by the Comite International des Sports des Sourds, CISS
(The International Committee of Sports for the Deaf). These games evolved into the modern
Deaflympics, governed by the CISS. The CISS maintains separate games for deaf athletes
based on their numbers, their special communication needs on the sports field, and the social
interaction that is a vital part of sports. The games are built on 80 years of tradition. Organized
since 1924 by the Comite International des Sports des Sourds, CISS (The International
Committee of Sports for the Deaf), the first Summer Deaflympics were held in Paris. Winter
Deaflympics were added in 1949. The Summer and Winter Deaflympics are sanctioned by the
International Olympic Committee, IOC. To qualify for the games, athletes must have a hearing
loss of at least 55 db in their "better ear". Hearing aids, cochlear implants and the like are not
allowed to be used in competition, to place all athletes on the same level.

Concept of classification and divisioning in sports

Classification and divisioning in sports refers to the process used in disability sports
for providing even and fair competition for athletes with disability through grouping of
athletes.

 The process of classification and divisioning in disability in disability sports is

very much similar to grouping system used in mainstream sports.
 The divisioning by the following points
Genders
Age
Weight
Or even abilities

Classification in physical Impairment In Paralympics

  Impaired Muscle Power
 Impaired Passive Range of Movement
 Loss of Limbs or Limb Deficiency
 Leg – Length Difference
 Short Stature
 Hypertonia
 Ataxia
 Athetosis

Process of Divisioning

1. Age

Team Sports Individual Sports

15 and under 8 – 11 years

16 – 21 years 12 – 15 years

22 and above 16 – 21 years

22 – 29 years

30 and above

2. Genders
3. Ability

Concept of Inclusion In Sports, Its Need and Implementation.

Inclusion is making a person, thing, or idea part of a group or collection. Inclusion is the
addition of any policy or practice to ensure that everyone in society has access to resources
and opportunities. Inclusion is a universal human right that provides opportunities to
eliminate discrimination and tolerance.

Encouraging Inclusion through Physical Education and Sports

1. Role of Family
2. Role of School
3. Role of Organisations

Inclusion- Its needs and Implication

Needs for Inclusive education

 1. For self esteem
2. For better social skills
3. Greater sensitivity
4. For better understanding of strengths and weakness
5. For better of belonginess

Advantage of Physical Activity for Children with Special Needs

Physical Activity

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, USA, physical activity
generally refers to movement that enhances health.
It means the movement of the body that uses energy. Walking, running, dancing,
swimming, yoga and gardening are a few examples of physical activity. For health
benefits, physical activity should be moderate or vigorous intensity.
Exercise is a type of physical activity that’s planned and structured. Lifting weights,
taking an aerobics class and playing on a sports team are examples of exercise.

Advantage of Physical Activity for Children with Special Needs

Regular physical activity is good for everyone but it’s particularly important for
children with special needs. These are most important for their growth and
development. There are numbers of advantages of physical activities.
These are as follows

 It strengthens the heart muscle thereby improving cardiovascular efficiency,

lung efficiency and exercise endurance. This helps in controlling repetative
behaviours among disabled children.
 Besides improving fitness, physical activity develops social relationships with
other children, teammates and teachers.
 This brings positive changes in the social behaviour of these children.
 It helps to improve energy level in the body. Regular physical activity often
makes children more energetic, allows them to become active.
 It regulates blood pressure, cholesterol level and diabetes. Physical activity
reduces stress level.
 It helps to control weight. The children with disabilities are not physically active
or may have deficit of calories, which takes fat away and lowers weight and
regular exercises help in regulating weight.
 Physical activities help in improving muscle strength, coordination and flexibility
among disabled children.
 This also improves motor skills, brings better balance and body awareness
which is lacking in these children.
 Physical exercise finds an outlet to channelise the physical energy which helps
these children to cope with stress, anxiety and depression.
 Physical activity enhances the metabolism of brain in the children. It leads to
cognitive improvement in children with special needs allowing them to acquire
new skills, learn new things and focus on specific goals.
 Physical activity decreases anxiety, reduces depression, and improves mood
and outlook in children. In addition, their
  Quality of sleep is also improved.

Strategies to Make Physical Activities Accessible for Children with Special

Need
The various strategies or ways by which physical activities can be made accessible
for children with special needs are as follows

1. Inclusive Classrooms It means development of education laws in such a way

that children with special needs get education within the normal classrooms
along with other children so that they are well accepted in society.
2. Assistive Technology It refers to creating devices, tools or equipments that help
children with special needs to participate in learning activities like bigger balls,
balls with bells, balls attached to strings to bring it back to the students etc.
3. Adaptive Physical Education Depending on student’s disability, a separate,
adaptive class or modifications within a game, changing the rules of the game
or sport to some extent can help the students in a big way.
4. Creating Specific Environment Students with special needs can be provided
with specific play area with special requirements as needed by them. Loud
music, glaring lights often cannot be tolerated by these children, so a lot of
natural lighting should be there.
5. Positive Behaviour In physical education classes, teachers should show
positive behaviour and healthy interactions and prevent negative behaviours.
The method is to “Prevent, Teach, Reinforce”. This means class material
taught through positive interactions, lesson reinforced by referring back to
behavioural expectations and evaluating progress.
6. Focus on Creative Games Instead of competitive games and physical
activities, the strategy is to develop creative games. This helps in team building
and cooperation and prevents unnecessary competition and boosts the
confidence of these children.
7. Accomodations and Modification Since the individual needs of the children with
special needs ard different^ it is essential for . the teachers to modify the
teaching strategies in order to accommodate the children with disabilities.
Therefore constant modification and accommodation is required.
8. Professional Courses Developing more professional courses and teacher
certification programs for teaching physical education to children with special
needs is essential to popularise the adaptive physical education programme.