Competition for Special Olympics begins at local levels (in Baytown), area level (Houston), Regional, State, National and international (World Games). Athletes must compete at lower levels to advance to higher levels. Area competitions are offered in every sport. State competitions are offered 3 times a year: 1.Fall Games (softball, flag football, golf, bocce, aquatics), 2. Winter Games (Volleyball, table tennis, bowling, weight lifting), and 3. Summer Games (track, cycling, soccer, basketball). When attending state Games, which normally last for 3-4 days, athletes may only enter one of the sports offered at the games. The district pays all expenses for the games for all GCCISD student/athletes who qualify to go.
National and World Games Competitions
As stated above, Special Olympics offers competition at local, area, regional and state levels. Athletes that compete at state become eligible to apply for and attend National and International (World) Games. The National Games are held in different states and usually last about 7-9 days. They are held every 4 years, usually the year before the World Summer Games. The Special Olympic World Games are held every 4 years, are held in different countries and usually last 10- 14 days. The World Games are divided into Winter and Summer Games, alternating every 2 years. Each State is given a sports quota (several teams and individual slots) for each of these games and athletes who have attended state competitions in those specific sports may apply to the state office. There is a cost to attend these games, usually about $500 each for Nationals and $2000 each for World Games. Athletes and teams must fundraise for these competitions. Goose Creek athletes/teams/coaches have be fortunate to have been selected to attend the 2006 National Games in Iowa, the 2010 Nationals in Nebraska, and a soccer team will be attending the upcoming 2014 National Games in New Jersey. Athletes/teams/coaches were also selected and attended the 1995 World Games in Connecticut, the 1999 World Games in North Carolina, the 2003 WG in Ireland, the 2007 WG in China, and one athlete went to the 2011 WG in Greece.