In early 2007, Special Olympics International created this pilot programme to reach out to children with intellectual disabilities aged two to seven, and to welcome them and their families to the Special Olympics movement. The programme made its global debut in 2007 at the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai, China.

Through Young Athletes, volunteers introduce young children with disabilities to the world of sport, with the goal of preparing them for sports training and the Special Olympics competition when they get older. This programme started in Malta in 2009 has been going on for the past year and a half on an individual basis and now it has grown to weekly group sessions.

Reports from parents are encouraging, and the science looks promising too. Special Olympics commissioned the University of Massachusetts to conduct a study of Young Athletes pilot sites to learn more about the programme’s benefits.

Preliminary findings suggest that participation in the Young Athletes Programme may lead to improvements in motor development, as well as social, emotional and communication development.

Thanks to the support of organisations like the Vodafone Malta Foundation and Spinach Fitness Club, Special Olympics is now able to welcome young children between the age of two and seven with intellectual disabilities and their families to a world of physical activity, garnering personal and social development, a sense of pride and increased inclusion in the community. The Young Athletes Programme is offered free to families.

Speaking during the official launch of the programme, Parliamentary Secretary for Youth and Sport Clyde Puli stated that the government firmly believes that sport enhances both social and personal skills of the individual. Such values include a sense of discipline and team building. He added that the government was aiming to promote social inclusion through sport. He added that the government, through KMS, is a major partner of the Special Olympics Malta and reminded that this year the KMS already committed more than €12,000 to Special Olympics.

Anna Calleja, National Director for Special Olympics Malta, said that “with the generous help of our sponsors Special Olympics Malta is now offering group training sessions through the Young Athlete Programme where from an early age children are introduced to the world of sports. This programme focuses on the fundamental basic skills that are crucial to cognitive development. Such physical activities help children develop motor skills, hand eye co-ordination and the application of these physical skills. Improved social skills are another important reason why parents enroll their children.”

“The Vodafone Malta Foundation has been supporting Special Olympics Malta since its very beginning and we have been main sponsors of the events organised by the Committee since 2004,” said Roberta Pace, Administrator of the Vodafone Malta Foundation. “We have supported regularly the Young Athlete Programme over three years apart from the annual grant we give to Special Olympics Malta. We are pleased to support Special Olympics Malta because these athletes have made our country proud on more than one occasion.

“It was truly an honour for me to visit one of their training sessions. This was an occasion which made me aware of the beneficial work Special Olympics Malta carries out. I consider the Special Olympics athletes as part of our extended family at Vodafone Malta so much so that we have invited them to join us in some of our most important campaigns”.

“Both Special Olympics Malta and participating families have found in Spinach Fitness the ideal setting where they can practice, enhance and display their abilities,” said Alan Pace, Director of Spinach Fitness. “Spinach Fitness was built and designed with the family in mind and the fact that it is also useful for families with special needs makes it a one-of-a-kind fitness centre. The activities that we are delivering not only facilitate children’s growth but also offer parents and other children tools to grown, to play together and to become stronger in various ways. I am pleased that our staff is delivering its best and has created an atmosphere where children with intellectual disabilities improve physically, cognitively and socially.”

For more information about Special Olympics Malta and the Young Athletes Programme, interested parents can call Anna Calleja on 9989 1687. Special Olympics Malta is also receiving donations of €2.33 through SMS on 50617358. For financial contributions or other donations, Desiree Bone can be contacted on 9954 3210.