WASHINGTON, March 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Special Olympics
is the biggest untold secret in healthcare. For over 20 years, the
organization has been getting people with intellectual disabilities
healthy and lowering their risk of deadly – and costly – conditions
like cardiovascular disease, stroke and cancer. As the only leader
in health for people with intellectual disabilities, Special
Olympics is driving the global direction of health policies for
people with disabilities through its life-changing health
programming. Almost 300,000 athletes in 109 countries are currently
participating in Special Olympics health and fitness activities,
making inclusive health a reality for this vulnerable and
marginalized population.
A new study from Jefferson Health examined how the COVID-19
pandemic has affected people with intellectual disabilities, which
makes up 1–3% of the U.S. population. The study, published earlier
this month in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM)
Catalyst, found that intellectual disability was
second only to older age as a risk factor for dying from COVID-19,
and that people with intellectual disabilities are almost six times
more likely to die from COVID than the general population.
Like other sports organizations, Special Olympics has cancelled
in-person practices and competitions across the globe since the
pandemic began. To ensure athletes, caregivers and coaches stayed
informed on practicing COVID-19 prevention tips, Special Olympics
has armed its community with ongoing education materials on staying
safe during COVID. Over the last year, the organization has
prioritized the development of at home fitness resources, including
fitness videos and creating stress reduction challenges to help
athletes stay fit and active during the pandemic.
The latest fitness resource available to Special Olympics
athletes has been launched in partnership with WWE. WWE Superstar
Drew McIntyre has teamed up with
Special Olympics athletes to create a brand-new online workout
called School of Strength: Class Is Now in Session. The
workout was created for all ability levels in mind and explores fun
nutritional tips and mindfulness strategies. The campaign also
introduced Unified Fitness Kits, which include cones, an agility
ladder, a resistance band, a jump rope, an exercise ball, an
activity tracker, and printable exercise cards. The "fit kits"
encourage Special Olympics athletes to keep their fitness levels up
at home by taking advantage of basic exercise equipment available
in the comfort of their living rooms and backyards. This newest
addition to School of Strength builds off the success of the
original School of Strength campaign released in
March 2020, which was created in
response to Special Olympics athletes' requests for the development
of more fitness resources that excite and inspire them to stay fit
year-round, especially now, when they aren't able to train or
compete alongside their teammates.
"Physical exercise, a nutritious diet and a strong mind are the
keys to a healthy lifestyle. I'm proud to be part of School of
Strength, so I can amplify this message to Special Olympics
athletes around the world," said WWE Superstar Drew McIntyre.
During the month of March leading up to World Health Day on
7th April, Special Olympics is continuing its
"Revolution is Inclusion" five-year global campaign targeting
health care professionals and the younger generation of Millennials
and Centennials by demonstrating the power of inclusive health and
fitness and raising awareness of the health disparities that exist
for people with intellectual disabilities. The organization is
making a prominent marketing and communications push to urge
doctors, nurses and other frontline healthcare professionals to
learn how to better treat people with intellectual disabilities and
offers specialized trainings for medical professionals to educate
them on how to adapt their routine or office to treat people with
intellectual disabilities. The campaign also seeks to attract a
younger generation of supporters to teach them to adopt inclusion
and be advocates for people with intellectual differences.
"Current research indicates that people with intellectual
disabilities are almost six times more likely to die from COVID-19
and face serious inequities in many areas of health care resulting
in premature deaths. We have been working hard to create at-home
health and fitness opportunities for our athletes to help them stay
committed to their health and fitness and stay safe while doing
so," said Dr. Alicia Bazzano, Chief
Health Officer, Special Olympics. "We are thrilled to again partner
with WWE for our School of Strength campaign and promote a
shared focus on inclusive health, where every athlete has the
ability to be healthy and fit. We look forward to seeing our
athletes meeting and exceeding their fitness and wellness
goals."
Special Olympics Health, made possible by the Golisano
Foundation, and in the United
States in collaboration with the U.S. Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, is creating a world where people with
intellectual disabilities have every opportunity to be healthy
and can take full advantage of the same health programs and
services available to people without intellectual disabilities.
Special Olympics has provided over 2 million free health screenings
in over 135 countries and trained nearly 300,000 healthcare
professionals. The organization is investing in a life-span
approach, serving as health partners for every person with an
intellectual disability throughout their life.
Special Olympics is committed to developing new resources and
engaging with athletes during these unprecedented times. Our
partners continue to support inclusive health alongside us. We
encourage the public to take the inclusion pledge, symbolizing
their commitment to overcoming the fear of difference and replacing
it with the power of inclusion. We also call on members of the
medical community to support a more inclusive medical practice for
all. Check out the website to see how you can support an
inclusive health practice for everyone.
About Special Olympics
Founded in 1968, Special Olympics is a global movement to end
discrimination against people with intellectual disabilities. We
foster acceptance of all people through the power of sport and
programming in education, health and leadership. With more than six
million athletes and Special Olympics Unified Sports® partners in
over 190 countries and territories and more than one million
coaches and volunteers, Special Olympics delivers more than 30
Olympic-type sports and over 100,000 Games and
competitions every year. Engage with us on:
Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn and our
blog on Medium. Learn more at www.SpecialOlympics.org.
About WWE
WWE, a publicly traded company (NYSE: WWE), is an integrated
media organization and recognized leader in global entertainment.
The Company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and
deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE
is committed to family friendly entertainment on its television
programming, pay-per-view, digital media and publishing platforms.
WWE's TV-PG, family-friendly programming can be seen in more than
900 million homes worldwide in 28 languages. WWE Network, the
first-ever 24/7 over-the-top premium network that includes all live
pay-per-views, scheduled programming and a massive video-on-demand
library, is currently available in more than 180 countries. The
Company is headquartered in Stamford,
Conn., with offices in New
York, Los Angeles,
London, Mexico City, Mumbai, Shanghai, Singapore, Dubai, Munich
and Tokyo.
Additional information on WWE (NYSE: WWE) can be found at
wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. For information on our global
activities, go to http://www.wwe.com/worldwide/.
Contact:
Christy Weir, Special
Olympics
Phone: +1 202-738-8511
E-mail address: cweir@specialolympics.org
Joe Villa, WWE
Phone: +1
203-359-5175
E-mail address: joe.villa@wwecorp.com
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SOURCE Special Olympics