SPORTS TRAINING WITHIN A SPECIAL OLYMPICS FITNESS INNOVATION PROGRAMME
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2016 |
| Type | Article in Proceedings |
| Conference | 10th International Conference On Kinanthropology "Sport and Quality of Life" |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Sport and leisure time activities |
| Keywords | mental disability Healthy Athletes’ programme fitness athletic race |
| Description | The presented article is focused on athletes – Special Olympians and their fitness within a track and field environment. The basic principle of the Special Olympics(SO) sports programme is participation in year round training and competition. The improvement of fitness is considered as the basis for future sports achievement and the improvement of athletes´ health related fitness variables. Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia selected six European SO Healthy Athletes’ programmes to innovate the fitness of athletes with a mental disability. This was accomplished with the aid of a European Union grant. The Czech Republic’s SO programme is focused on the education of coaches and athletes on fitness training. The presented article describes the case studies of 11 athletes (beginners, as well as advanced athletes). It includes their training achievements in athletic running events (100 – 200 – 400 m), measured over the last two years (in 2014 and more especially in 2015). Running events were chosen because the natural movement involved is minimally polluted by skills (influenced by cognitive limits). Examples are given of athletes´ performances in different age cohorts and in different training regimes. In conclusion, athletes with a mental disability like to train and like to participate in competition. It is possible to improve their fitness and results by regular training, even those in the 40-50 year old age bracket. |