Mission Statement
Enriching the lives of Manitobans with an intellectual disability through active participation in sport.
A number of basic principles or assumptions are believed to be inherent in Special Olympics Manitoba's mission statement. These are:
- That programs must be provided for all functional abilities and ages of individuals with an intellectual disability;
- That active, physical participation while attending Special Olympics Manitoba programs is a requisite for attendance/membership;
- Special Olympics provides sport opportunities directly for athletes with an intellectual disability;
- Special Olympic programs are athlete centered. The athlete is all-important in Special Olympics;
- Special Olympics is a sport program. Sport involves the matching of strength, endurance and physical skills in formalized settings with structured rules and determined outcomes;
- Training and preparation are essential to meaningful participation in sport, and are an indispensable element of any Special Olympics program;
- Every Special Olympics athlete deserves the right to a certified coach;
- Special Olympics supports and promotes a fair and safe environment for both athletes and coaches;
- The practice of divisioning athletes for competition, based on their abilities, is fundamental to the Special Olympics program. This practice ensures that all athletes experience equitable competition; and
- Special Olympics uses the medium of sport to assist persons with an intellectual disability to become all that they can be - physically, mentally, socially, emotionally - and to become accepted, respected and productive members of society.
Vision
Special Olympics Manitoba is the sports organization of choice that offers life-long sports opportunities for individuals with an intellectual disability. We engage the broader community to provide a quality sport experience for our athletes.
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Opportunity & Accessibility:
We will:
- provide all athletes with choices in their opportunity to train and to compete;
- be accessible and open to all athletes with an intellectual disability, regardless of their ability;
- be a change agent for social inclusion - advocating for and providing all athletes with opportunities for integration through sport;
- be recognized as an integral and valued part of the sport delivery system by working in partnership with sport organizations.
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Quality:
We will:
- provide quality programs and services for our members and supporters;
- provide quality training for athletes and coaches;
- provide a high level of support for athletes in training and competition including a focus on their personal health, well being and safety.
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Community Awareness & Support:
We will:
- have a very high level of community awareness so that people know who we are, what we provide and how to access opportunities;
- be in every community that wishes to join the Special Olympics movement;
- be an integral and valued part of communities, such that if we failed to exist there would be an outcry in the community.
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Organization:
We will:
- be an integrated cohesive organization (thinking globally, acting locally);
- have a strong committed group of volunteers;
- provide opportunities for all athletes in the movement to input to and access decision-making processes;
- ensure that people know where to voice their concerns and that they have an opportunity to be heard;
- be accountable to our members and partners, and decision-making processes will be transparent, clear, fair and understood;
- support research and development on issues affecting people with an intellectual disability;
- play a leadership role on the community, provincial, national and world stages in advancing all Special Olympics;
- constantly challenge ourselves to enrich the lives of Canadians with an intellectual disability through sport.
Our Values
The following values were identified as being paramount to the on-going success of Special Olympics Manitoba:
- Integrity
- Innovation in Leadership
- Passion & Dedication
- Commitment to Excellence
- Transparent & Accountable
Our Values in Action
For each value statement a set of actions has been developed. They include:
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Integrity:
- We respect one another and our athletes and invested partners
- We are open and honest with our athletes, colleagues and partners
- We are authentic and fair in the decisions we make and the actions we take
- We create an environment that fosters trust for one another
- We are ethical in presenting ourselves and in conducting our business
- We encourage, listen to and are responsive to the opinions of others
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Innovation in Leadership:
- We strive for creativity in all aspects of the organization
- We will be proactive
- We will be on the cutting edge in our decisions and on going dealings
- We will strive to maintain and enhance the long term ethics and safety of the organization
- We encourage innovative thinking at all levels of leadership in the organization
- We will seek and provide opportunities to develop and improve
- We believe in accepting and implementing change
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Passion & Dedication:
- We are loyal to the organization and the members of our team
- We believe in the rights of individuals with an intellectual disability
- We embrace challenge with purpose and energy (hard working)
- We have the drive required to be successful
- We recognize personal endeavour
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Commitment to Excellence:
- We believe in providing exceptional athlete centered and customer service
- We succeed through teamwork in a positive environment
- We provide opportunities for individuals to develop and succeed within the organization
- We will provide the resources and authority to meet our goals and objectives
- We will set targets that make a difference
- We celebrate our achievements and organizational triumphs
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Transparent and Accountable:
- We take ownership and are accountable for our actions
- We will make informed decisions
- We will ask questions to encourage self determination in preference to telling people what to do
- We will be able to give clear and concise reasons for the decisions we make
- We will foster communication and encourage our athletes and vested partners to be involved in decision making processes
