Special Olympics to Host May Championship with USA Gymnastics

USA Gymnastics and Special Olympics are again partnering to host the fourth annual USA Gymnastics Special Olympics Championships, scheduled for May 3-4, at the Cobb County Gymnastics Center in Marietta, Ga.  More than 300 athletes participated last year, and athletes interested in participating in 2014 may register now through March 21, 2014.

The annual event features competition in artistic gymnastics (men, women and unified), festival rhythmic gymnastics (individual, group and unified), and TeamGym. Men's and women's gymnastics uses Special Olympics rules, while festival rhythmic gymnastics and TeamGym follow USA Gymnastics rules.

The USA Gymnastics Special Olympics Championships is hosted locally by Chattooga Gymnastics, Special Olympics Georgia and Special Olympics Cobb County.

For more information, please go to usagym.org/specialolympics.

Special Olympics is an international organization that changes lives through the power of sport by encouraging and empowering people with intellectual disabilities, promoting acceptance for all, and fostering communities of understanding and respect worldwide. Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the Special Olympics movement has grown from a few hundred athletes to more than 3.7 million athletes in more than 170 countries in all regions of the world, providing year-round sports training, athletic competition and other related programs. Special Olympics provides people with intellectual disabilities continuing opportunities to realize their potential, develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, and experience joy and friendship. For more information or to follow Special Olympics, go to specialolympics.org; Twitter, @specialolympics; fb.com/specialolympics; youtube.com/specialolympicshq; and specialolympicsblog.wordpress.com.

Based in Indianapolis, USA Gymnastics is the national governing body for gymnastics in the United States.  Its mission is to encourage participation and the pursuit of excellence in the sport.  Its disciplines include men's and women's artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, trampoline and tumbling, acrobatic gymnastics, and group gymnastics (known internationally as Gymnastics for All).  For more information, log on to www.usagym.org.