Bowling is offered for Special Olympics Duluth athletes.
Season runs August to November.
FACT SHEET
Special Olympics offers bowling in every US program and in over 20 countries around the globe.
Many athletes choose bowling because it is a sport people enjoy as a leisure activity, as well as competition. Although there are some modifications made for athletes with physical disabilities, most athletes compete under the same rules and circumstances as athletes on a professional tour. As in all Special Olympics sports, bowling teams are grouped in competition divisions according to the athletes’ ability level, age and gender.
Special Olympics athletes can choose from a variety of events, including singles events for men and women, doubles and mixed doubles. Additionally, for physically disabled athletes, there are assisted events such as ramp bowling.
Special Olympics bowling also includes a Unified SportsŪ division. In this competition athletes with and without mental disabilities compete on the same team. Their score is averaged, and the best averaged score wins. Special Olympics conducts an annual National Unified SportsŪ Bowling Championship in conjunction with the opening of the American Bowling Congress Tournament.
Special Olympics bowling is one of the fastest growing sports. When it was first included at the 1987 Special Olympics World Summer Games, bowling was dominated by American athletes and hosted only 33 competitors. At the 1995 World Games, just eight years later, bowling boasted 454 athletes from 23 countries!
One of Special Olympics’ most amazing athletes, Loretta Claiborne, likes bowling, as well as running the marathon. Claiborne, a member Special Olympics International's Board of Directors, competed in the 1995 World Games and bowled an outstanding 178 on her way to a gold medal in the singles division! Another bowling champion, Jimmy Schroeder, has assisted with the development of Special Olympics bowling program.
The Official Special Olympics Sports Rules govern all Special Olympics bowling competitions. As an international sports program, Special Olympics has created these rules based upon the American Bowling Congress and the Women’s International Bowling Congress rules for Bowling competition. ABC or WIBC rules are employed except when they are in conflict with the Official Special Olympics Sports Rules. In such cases, the Official Special Olympics Sports Rules apply.
Special Olympics is the first organization other than a national Olympic Committee to be officially recognized and endorsed by the International Olympic Committee.