The Key to Quality Competition
Sport officials complete the third component necessary for sporting competition — athletes, spectators and officials. 
Officials ensure adherence to the rules and safe competition, and are necessary to ensure the integrity of the sport. At the opening of a Special Olympics competition, officials (or an individual representing all) takes the following Official's Oath:
"In the name of all judges and officials, I promise that we shall officiate in the [name of Games/Tournament/Competition inserted here] with complete impartiality, respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them, in the spirit of sportsmanship."
Special Olympics encourages all persons officiating Special Olympics competitions to become certified in their sport Volunteer sports officials ensure the adherence of the rules and the safety of Special Olympics competition, and are necessary to ensure the integrity of the sport and provides an opportunity for anyone interested, including Special Olympics athletes, to become a certified Special Olympics sport-specific official.
There are two ways to do become certified:
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Track 1 — Persons with sport-specific officiating certification(s), and no Special Olympics experience.
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Track 2 — Persons with neither sport-specific officiating certification(s), nor Special Olympics experience.
To locate an Officials Training Workshop near you, please use our Program Locator and contact your local Special Olympics Program |