MedFest is a Special Olympics Healthy Athletes® screening program that facilitates the required standard sports physical examination for current and prospective Special Olympics athletes. First conceived at the Special Olympics Program in Chicago, Illinois, USA, MedFest is now being developed for implementation throughout the movement. The Special Olympics General Rules require that all athletes who want to participate in Special Olympics must be examined by a physician or trained medical professional who completes the “medical certification” section of the Athlete Registration Form. With the help of local volunteer health care professionals, MedFest provides thousands of people with intellectual disabilities the chance to participate in year-round Special Olympics sports training and athletic competition. A blood pressure check is one of the components of the physical examination given at MedFest. For more information on this Healthy Athletes discipline, read MedFest: The Gateway to Special Olympics in the Winter 2006 edition of the Healthy Athletes newsletter. MedFest examinations have led to the registration of thousands of new Special Olympics athletes around the world. In 2004 alone, more than 9,000 new athletes were recruited into Special Olympics through MedFest, and it is estimated that this figure doubled in 2005. The physical examinations at MedFest are conducted by volunteer medical professionals and are free to current and prospective athletes. Exams include: registration and assessments of medical history; height and weight; blood pressure; cardiovascular; abdominal; musculoskeletal evaluation; and check-out/referral for follow-up care. MedFest exams also address questions and concerns of athletes’ parents and guardians. Benefits to the Community MedFest provides people with intellectual disabilities: Opportunities to participate in Special Olympics sports training and competition Avenues for inclusion and acceptance for an underserved population Free clinical service that results in enhanced physical fitness and comfort with the medical community. MedFest provides the medical community: Interaction with people with intellectual disabilities and specialized training in assessing their health status A relationship with Special Olympics, the world’s largest sports organization for people with intellectual disabilities. MedFest provides schools and residential living facilities: Opportunities for students to participate in exciting physical activities and competition A means of fostering acceptance and inclusion among student bodies by integrating schools into the MedFest program Heightened visibility of the school’s commitment to provide opportunities to people with intellectual disabilities. For more information on MedFest, contact Heather Driscoll, MS, Senior Manager, Health Promotion and MedFest, +1 (202) 715-1149, hdriscoll@specialolympics.org