Lynne Burnham Holmquist

Special Olympics Texas provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for more than 58,800 children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community. Special Olympics Texas offers 22 sports: Aquatics, Athletics, Basketball, Bocce, Bowling, Cycling, Equestrian, Figure Skating, Flag Football, Golf, Gymnastics, Kayaking, Powerlifting, Roller Skating, Sailing, Soccer, Softball, Speed Skating, Table Tennis, Tennis, Triathlon and Volleyball. Special Olympics Texas holds more than 300 competitions annually on area, regional and state levels. Event divisions are based on age, gender and ability level to give athletes an equal chance to win. Special Olympics Texas is divided into four regions with 19 area offices. Athletes may begin training as early as six years old, but must be eight years old to compete. Athletes must be 12 years old to attend statewide competitions. Thanks to the Young Athletes™ Program (YAP), which launched in 2005, children ages two through seven can participate as an “Athlete in Training” in areas where the program is available. Volunteers are the lifeline of the Special Olympics Texas program. More than 36,3750 volunteers in Texas currently dedicate their time to Special Olympics. These volunteers serve as coaches, officials, committee members, competition assistants, speech coaches and much more. There are more than 3,900 volunteer coaches involved in the program. Special Olympics Texas is a registered 501(c)(3), non-profit organization supported by private donations from individuals, corporations and organizations throughout the state. Special Olympics is “the most credible charity in America” according to a survey in the Chronicle of Philanthropy.