UCO Endeavor Games for Athletes with Physical Disabilities
This project's parent organization is University of Central Oklahoma Wellness Center
It operates in United States
It uses Multiple sports
Entered the Sport For Social Inclusion Award
More about UCO Endeavor Games for Athletes with Physical Disabilities
In 2000, The Endeavor Games were created when it was discovered there was a significant need for a sporting event for individuals with physical disabilities. Very few events existed in the United States, and those that did only addressed one specific disability or offered one sport. The Endeavor Games’ model is to bring people of all physical disabilities together, competing in a multitude of sports, similar to the Parlaympic Games. Simply put, the results have been amazing! Athletes with disabilities such as amputations, spinal cord injuries, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, dwarfism and the visually impaired have been given new opportunities.
Athlete numbers have increased from 119 to over 400. And now, returning soldiers who have fought the war on terror and are faced with physical disabilities have the opportunity to represent their country in a new way – that of an elite athlete. Additionally, the Endeavor Games have made a significant impact on raising awareness of sports for the physically disabled. There has been an education process within our culture to explain the differences between the Special Olympics and the Paralympic Games. There has also been an amazing commitment through the years with community volunteers and sponsors