Annie is the National Director for Special Olympics Gibraltar. In 1985, Annie was instrumental for Special Olympics Gibraltar, igniting a movement that continues to empower individuals with intellectual disabilities through sports. Her unwavering commitment and selflessness serve as a guiding light, inspiring countless athletes to reac
Annie is the National Director for Special Olympics Gibraltar. In 1985, Annie was instrumental for Special Olympics Gibraltar, igniting a movement that continues to empower individuals with intellectual disabilities through sports. Her unwavering commitment and selflessness serve as a guiding light, inspiring countless athletes to reach their full potential. Annie's leadership exemplifies the profound impact one individual can make in transforming lives and fostering inclusion within communities.
The Special Olympics Gibraltar program began in 1985.
At that time, Annie Risso, who was working in St Bernadette’s Occupational Centre, realised that once the center closed at 4pm, there was a lack of activities for young people with intellectual disabilities to do. When the Special Olympics program was brought to her attention, Annie dec
The Special Olympics Gibraltar program began in 1985.
At that time, Annie Risso, who was working in St Bernadette’s Occupational Centre, realised that once the center closed at 4pm, there was a lack of activities for young people with intellectual disabilities to do. When the Special Olympics program was brought to her attention, Annie decided to give it a go. Initially, the program was no more than a school sports day, but with advice and help, it soon followed Special Olympic guidelines and became an international member. In that year athletes from Gibraltar attended their first European Special Olympics Games in Dublin, Ireland. Since then, Special Olympics Gibraltar has continued to grow, offering coaching and training in multiple sports.
As a member of the Special Olympics Gibraltar community, Michael brings a wealth of experience and dedication demonstrating his commitment to fostering inclusivity and promoting the power of sports for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Elected in 2022, as Sports Director, his leadership ensures that athletes receive the support
As a member of the Special Olympics Gibraltar community, Michael brings a wealth of experience and dedication demonstrating his commitment to fostering inclusivity and promoting the power of sports for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Elected in 2022, as Sports Director, his leadership ensures that athletes receive the support and opportunities they deserve, enabling them to thrive both on and off the field.
The sport of athletics encourages athletes of all abilities and ages to compete at their optimum level. Through the track-and-field-based athletics training program, participants can develop total fitness to compete in any sport. As with all Special Olympics sports, athletics offers athletes the opportunity to learn through skill development and competitive settings and to be involved in large social settings. compete in any sport.
Bocce is an Italian game. The basic principle of the sport is to roll a bocce ball closest to the target ball, which is called a palina. Bocce as a Special Olympics sport provides people with special needs the opportunity to have social contact, develop physically and to gain self-confidence. Next to soccer and golf, bocce is the third most participated sport in the world.
Although Bowling does not belong to the Olympic sports, it is among the most popular sports in Special Olympics. It is a particularly beneficial sport to people with intellectual disabilities, irrespective of their age or sports abilities, since it ensures physical exercise and at the same time participation and social integration. Plus, it's great fun! make progress.
Cycling is a fascinating sport that requires good physical condition, balance, endurance and tactics. Special Olympics include time trial and road race events in different distances. Every athlete riding his/ hers bike aims at traveling at the best possible time and arrive at the finish line first.
Equestrian is one of the most fascinating sports during the Special Olympics World Games. The balance, the stability and the right communication between the horse and the rider is a key element for success in Equestrian sport.
Football is possibly the world's most popular team sport. It's also Special Olympics' most popular sport. This page draws together football-related information for all of Special Olympics, including news, stories, calendar events and competition results.
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players (or golfers) use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes. The game is played on golf courses, each of which features a unique design, although courses typically consist of either nine or 18 holes.
Open water swimming debuted at the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens, Greece as a demonstration sport. Open water swimming involves swimming in rivers, lakes, seas or the ocean, where deep water, lack of lane markings, waves, currents, wind and other natural elements test the swimmer.
Swimming is one of the most popular sports in world. Unlike other sports, swimming is a life skill that is taught, first, to ensure safety and, secondly, for sports and competition purposes. Aquatics covers a great variety of swimming skills, from short sprints to longer events and relays.
Alpine skiing is a demanding sport, and athletes will benefit by being in good physical condition to compete successfully and safely. Alpine skiing requires, in addition to a basic combination of endurance and strength, a high capacity of quickness and action/reaction endurance. Through proper training, the athletes improve their physical, psychological and mental efficiency.
Floorball is a versatile indoor team sport developed in the 1970s in Sweden, played in a rink with five field players plus a goalkeeper in each team. Floorball is played with plastic sticks and a light ball and with a goalkeeper without a stick. Floorball has similarities with hockey sports and the main objective is to score more goals than the opposite team
Floor hockey is a family of indoor hockey games, usually in the style of ice hockey, that are played on flat floor surfaces, such as a basketball court. As in other hockey codes, players on each team attempt to shoot a ball or puck into a goal using sticks, usually with a curved end.
Snowshoeing is quickly becoming a favorite for outdoor winter activity. Combining aerobic activity with ease of walking over snow without sinking in, snowshoeing is an activity for all ages. Snowshoe races are part of the Arctic Winter Games and the winter Special Olympics.
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