7000-203 SPORT DEVELOPMENT AND SPORT CLASSIFICATION

Review Date: February 2021               

Effective Date: February 2021

Special Olympics Ontario has two classes of Sports. Sports are considered Official and Recognized.

Official Sports

  • are an official sport of Special Olympics Canada and Special Olympics International
  • Special Olympics Ontario provides support in development and providing training, and competition opportunities.

Recognized Sports

  • are an official sport of Special Olympics Canada and Special Olympics International
  • Special Olympics Ontario strategically develops these sports to meet the needs of it’s athletes. Special Olympics Ontario identifies these sports a developing and provides resources to assist with it’s development.

Official and Recognized Sport Status

All Official and Recognized Sports will be reviewed on an annual basis to ensure they meet the Strategic and LTAD goals within Special Olympics Ontario.

As of November 30, 2012, Special Olympics Ontario does not have any recognized sports.

Prohibited sports are not permitted to be practised in Special Olympics Ontario.

Prohibited sports are those that do not meet the minimum health and safety standards of Special Olympics Canada and/or Special Olympics Inc. or are a potential danger to it’s athletes. The following prohibited sports, and events, are not part of any Special Olympics competition, event, training program, clinic, etc.

Athletics: Javelin, Hammer Throw,Pole Vault, Triple Jump, Discus

Aquatics: Platform Dives

Gymnastics: Trampoline

Nordic Skiing: Biathlon, Nordic Jumping

Contact Sports: All Contact Sports, including: Marital Arts, Wrestling, Judo, Karate, Boxing, Rugby, American Football

Other: Fencing, Shooting

Sanctioned Programs

Sports that are used to maintain physical fitness are not Official or Recognized, and shall be considered Sanctioned Programs. A Sanctioned Program must have written approval from Special Olympics Ontario to be established and shall not be a prohibited Sport. Request to start a Sanctioned Program must be directed to the District Developer for consideration.

The program department will review all Sanctioned Programs on an annual basis. The criteria for a Sanctioned Program to be considered a recognized sport is the following:

  • the overall strategic development of the sport within SOO and SOC
  • the overall strategic development of the sport within the LTAD model
  • the availability of physical and financial sport resources
  • the availability of quality competition opportunities
  • the opportunity for partnerships with the NSO and PSO
  • overall general interest of the sport across the province