Special Olympics - Syria7th Regional Games -2010

Introduction

Founded in1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver ; Special Olympics is an international organization dedicated to empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities to become physically fit, productive and respected members of society through sports training and competition.

Building on the its motto & athletes oath: "Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt“;Today the Special Olympics serves more than 2.5 million persons with intellectual disabilities in more than 200 Programs in more than 165 countries globally and 20 Programs in 20 countries in the MENA region. An initial census of athlete participation conducted in that year established a baseline count of athletes worldwide.

Special Olympics

Special Olympics - SyriaSyria joined the International Special Olympics organisation in 1994 which already had existing programs in Middle east & Africa . In 1996 the Syrian Sports Union established a sports committee dedicated to run a year round activities for individuals with intellectual disability.

In 2001 and as result of the interest and support of the Special Olympics MENA regional headquarters, the Syrian Special Olympics committee was launch

To Expand opportunities offered to people with intellectual special needs so they have the chance through the provision of quality sports , training and competitions to improve their lives.

Vision

To support people with intellectual special needs in realising their potential by organising a year round sports training and competition, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate achievements, experience enjoyment and participate in a sharing of friendship with their families and other Special Olympics.

Mission

Founded on the belief that through participation in sport, people with intellectual special needs can develop the confidence and advocacy skills to become fully integrated into society; our goal is to promote the fuller social inclusion of people with learning disabilities.

Goal

Syria’s Special Olympics

A letter Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour on the seventh of January 2010, containing the desire of the Central Council for the Disabled, the composition of the sports concerned with social affairs, social and sports for people with intellectual special needs and the approved the resolution by the General Sports Union, which had all previous responsibility for all the activities of the Special Olympics Syria.

Official Structure

Min of Social affairs & Labour

Central Council for Disabled

Syria’s Special Olympics Committee

Syria’s Special Olympics Org Structure

2004

2007

2006

The year 2005 was a turning point as it witnessed the first athletics championship and the one-day competition; held in both Damascus and Aleppo the championships had the participation / 412 / players and / 180 / volunteers

Football and athletics competitions were held as well as the “ Will Festival”Witch witnessed championship activities for 6 sports: Football - Bocce - Swimming - Hockey – badminton and basketball / 907 / players and/525/ volunteers participated in the tournaments

In celebration of the re-election of H.E. President Bachar Alassad, One-Day tournament was held in the following governorates: Damascus, Deir Ezzor, Raqa, Aleppo and Homs for weight lifting and basketball with the participation of /1453/ players and /665/ volunteers

Local Games

2008

2009

tournaments were held for bocce, basketball, cycling, equestrian, badminton, weightlifting, swimming; also initiatives like “football for hope” and “football united” were launched with local artists and /1218/ players and / 668 / volunteers

Local Games

Tournaments were held for the first time under the patronage of the First Lady, Mrs. Asma al-Assad, as the championship “will and life” instead of the festival “will and life” Championships took place with / 1700 / player and / 750 / participated volunteers.

Special Olympics Syria's been keen to participate in the previous Regional MENA Games with a constantly incresed participation

Syrian Participation

Year Hosting Country Number of Athletes

Number of Syrian Athletes

2002 Lebanon 400 N/A

2004 Tunisia 600 N/A

2006 Dubai -UAE 1000 47

2008 Abu Dhabi - UAE 1500 67

Regional Games

The Special Olympics 7th Regional Games will be the largest sporting event for people intellectual special needs hosted by Syria under the patronage of Mrs. Asma al-Assad, wife of the President of the Syrian Arab Republic and the participation of Member States in the Special Olympics in the Middle East and North Africa's 22 countries are: Jordan / UAE / Bahrain / Algeria / Saudi Arabia / Sudan / Iraq / Kuwait / Morocco / Yemen / Iran / Tunisia / Palestine / Qatar / Oman / Syria / Lebanon / Libya / Egypt / Mauritania / Comoros / Djibouti

The forecasted number of participants is 2290 players from all participating countries, including 247 players from Syria

15 games will be offered during the 7th regional games in Damascus : athletics / table tennis / Football / basketball / swimming / hockey / handball / volleyball / Equestrian / gymnastics / Bocce / weight lifting / cycling / Badminton /

SYRIA : Sep 25th - Oct 3rd 2010

7th Regional Games

Public SectorEntity Required support

Min of Interior Extend Services and safety plan which will be implemented by the staff of public security to provide protection for gyms and volunteers to ensure the safety and security of those games

Min of Health Provide voluntarily medical staff for health check and ensure readiness of medical points and accredited hospitals in Damascus

Min of Education Allocate sport trainers and dedicated workforce for the regional games

Min of Information Help in publicising the regional games and its role through programs of regular weekly, monthly press and highlight preparations for the event

Min of Local Administration

Maintaining the readiness of sports facilities and furnish it with international standard equipments and decorating the city of Damascus for the event

Min of Tourism Secure bookings for participants and provide accommodation and prepare parallel touristic programs

Min of Transportation Secure means of local transport for the transfer of players from / to training facilities during the preparation period and the regional games activities

Support Special Olympics Syria’s plan through the provision of facilities for the 7th regional games

Special Olympics Partners

Private SectorCompany Sponsorship Level Required Support

UG, United Group Media Sponsor Advertising and communications services to support the Event and its activities, volunteers and players

Sport Sponsor Provide clothing and equipments for athletes and volunteers

Service Sponsor Provide food meals for the participants and volunteers during the games period

Support the activities and initiatives for the 7th regional games

Special Olympics Partners

Social SectorEntity Required support

NGOs specialised in intellectual special needs

Support in players and volunteers recruitment

Red Crescent Volunteers to support and assist the Medical Staff from the Min of Health

Others Volunteer to support the event’s initiatives and activities

Attract and activate most of the societies interested in intellectual special needs to show the importance of interdependence

Special Olympics Partners

27.09.10 03.10.1030.01.10

Press Conference

Training and preps till 30.08.10

Activities till 03.10.01

23.09.10

Arrivals of regional delegations

Training Volunteers

06.10شهر 07/10شهر

Qualifying Round

7th regional games

Timeline

Visual Identity

Media campaign

Logo

Media campaign

Brand Activation Initiatives

Media campaign

Farhan

Set up informational booth in all major sports arenas in Damascus.– Volunteer recruitment– Ensure that that booth is manned during peak times.– Selling Memorabilia

Produce giant size uniform shirt that will be signed by students in the schools, thenduplicated in normal size and distributed to team members as gift item from Syrianstudents in support• Actual T-shirt can be displayed as attraction during events.

Mascot( Farhan ) will make appearance in schools around Syria with a team of volunteers with the following activities:• Distribution of informational flyers • An afternoon of fun (kermis games) • Educational lecture aimed at students and parents aboutSpecial Olympics • Give-away items

Communications Plan

Media campaign

A communications plan will be put to action upon the establishment of the communications and sponsorship committee to plan the following activities:

- Press Conference to launch visual identity

- Olympic torch event

- Media and press coverage

- Outdoor advertising

- Festivals and parades

Special Olympics Syria

Potentials without Boarders