This document provides information from a workshop on pursuing fitness goals for Special Olympics delegations. It discusses typical barriers to fitness that athletes face, such as lack of access and opportunity, and methods to overcome these like starting a walking club, setting goals, and developing relationships with local gyms for donations of training time and special membership deals. The workshop aims to spark ideas on how delegations can promote wellness and fitness in their communities.

1. Fitness for your Delegation
Minnesota
Noun: fitness
1. the condition of being physically fit and healthy
Purpose of the workshop:
 Spark conversation, ideas, group thinking – many minds creating ideas
are better than just one.
 You all have difference backgrounds, relationships with fitness, resources
available to you
Introduction:
 Ben Swarts, Sport Program Manager for Special Olympics Minnesota Areas
7&11
o Relationship with fitness
 Always been active
 High School swimmer
 Lifting and running in college, started Judo
 Accomplished certifications in Kettlebell and Progressive
Calisthenics
 Teach four classes weekly along with personal training
 Biggest benefit to me – personal empowerment
My Vision:
 All people, regardless of ability, to have equitable access and opportunity
to participate in personal wellness. The ability to pursue the goal of
actively creating a higher-quality life for themselves.
o So many intrinsic benefits to fitness
 Physical
 Mental
 Emotional
o Doesn’t mean individuals will choose to do so, but there should be
similar opportunity to participate
What I’ve seen: The need for fitness!

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 Used to work as a Service Coordinator at a Day program
o My caseload
 Most had personal health/fitness goals
 Tiny percentage were accomplishing them
 Often because of barriers outside their control
 Major issue when not emphasized
Are opportunities more limited?
 What do you think?
 Personal thoughts
Activity: What are some typical barriers to pursuing fitness goals?
What barriers do our athletes face in addition to the typical barriers? Are they
different?
How do we overcome these barriers?

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Methods of getting a delegation more “fitness minded.”
 Walking Club
 Reward program
 Goal Setting
o Specific
o Measurable
o Attainable
o Relevant
o Timebound
 Goal setting works because it gives concrete, understandable
components to an idea – action steps
How many have a gym in their community?
 All about developing the relationship with them
o Are you a member?
o Anyone you can think of to talk to?
o Starts with just one person, a small ask
 Bring athletes in to tour, they often can sell the program
themselves!
o Bring up the idea of in-kind donation
 Personal training time
 Special deal for SOMN athletes

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May lead to a stronger partnership/more involvement
 Potential for fundraising (5K, tabling events, open gym, etc)
 Direction SOMN is moving is wellness/fitness based
 Be sure to educate your gym on what SOMN is, what we stand for,
what we strive for
 Make them proud to associate with us!
o Feel free to use me as a resource, or connect me with
trainers/gyms in your areas – I love to talk about this!
Brainstorm some ideas for fitness involvement in your delegation/Community
Closing idea – This is the beginning – we’ve covered a lot of really great things today
and had some fantastic ideas. Please continue this conversation – there is a strong
need for this in communities, and willingness to make it happen – why else are you
all here?
Remember: Energy and ideas are great things, but they are simply a place to start.
Everything we have done here today, while a wonderful place to be, will quickly
become nothing unless we take SIMPLE ACTION. We can make this a reality.