Special Olympics Alaska (USA) athlete and volunteer Katie Kremer puts together media materials. [Photo courtesy 2001 Special Olympics World Games Organizing Committee] Allowing athletes the option to formally volunteer gives them an opportunity to continue their involvement with Special Olympics in new and challenging ways. "I like to volunteer rather than compete. I like helping people with disabilities," said Special Olympics Alaska (USA) athlete Lucy Odden, who wants "to get more people interested in volunteering for Special Olympics. It's great fun." Odden is particularly interested in advising athletes to get involved with Special Olympics, noting "You will be able to teach other athletes to be leaders. That's what I do." Many athletes report that after years of participating in Special Olympics, they feel they have a grasp of the fundamentals of how the organization works and how they might like to help provide the program as opposed to always being on the receiving side. Sometimes they help out when parents or friends volunteer, but wish that they could be given a job to do on their own. Many athletes report that they are looking for new activities and challenges. Athlete volunteers provide a new source of reliable volunteers to help expand offerings in sports and activities in which the athletes are most interested. How do Athletes as Volunteers Help Special Olympics? Special Olympics South Africa athlete William Jimmy Masina found his volunteer calling in 2000, when he was invited to a two-day Special Olympics South Africa officiating workshop in floor hockey: it was a perfect way to extend his love of the sport to another dimension of it. Masina continually encourages other athletes to explore their talents not just in playing but in volunteering as a coach or official. Visit the Meet our Athletes section of this Web site for more on Masina. When communities and other athletes see athletes stepping up to increasingly responsible volunteer roles, they see the local Special Olympics Program as inclusive and cutting edge. When athletes see an opportunity to grow and take on new roles, it keeps them engaged in Special Olympics. When athletes serve as equals in a volunteer capacity, they provide feedback and input to Special Olympics leadership and other volunteers that makes everyone work harder and glean more satisfaction from the effort. Athletes working in volunteer roles can explain what the athlete thinks and sees at each stage of an event, and that perspective is critical to an organization that prides itself on being athlete-centered. Special Olympics has a three-hour workshop presentation and eight one-hour volunteer management in-service modules to support this effort — resources available through Special Olympics Athlete Leadership Programs (ALPs). As an integral component of Special Olympics' dedication to empowerment and dignity, ALPs initiatives allow athletes to explore opportunities for participation in roles previously considered “non-traditional” — providing new opportunities for athletes and benefiting the movement as a whole. For more information on ALPs, contact Dave Lenox, Vice President, Sports & Athlete Leadership Programs, +1 (202) 628-3630 or dlenox@specialolympics.org