Post by Ardbeg... innit on Jun 9, 2010 10:56:31 GMT -6
I love the Special Olympics for bringing innovative new sports into the Olympic realm, and the local enthusiast who is pushing this. Who knows, unless there is a tragic drowning on the gym floor (it is the Special Olympics after all), this sport could go from "Special" to full fledged Olympic special with doping and steroids.
It's a long-term process to get a new sport in the Special Olympics, but Terry Smythe is confident stationary rowing will be approved as an official event later this year.
Smythe, fitness director at Aspirus Keweenaw Fitness Center in Laurium, said she was at the Michigan Special Olympic games June 3-5 in Mount Pleasant at Central Michigan University overseeing the stationary rowing exhibition event.
Smythe said as part of the stationary rowing exhibition, participants did 500-meter challenges. They could also use a virtual interactive computer program.
"They could actually see themselves in rowing shells (on a television screen in front of them)," she said.
There were many Michigan Special Olympics officials at Mount Pleasant, and Smythe said they're excited about the possibility of it becoming an official sport.
"They're all lobbying for me," she said. "They want to see it happen."
Smythe said she began the process to make stationary rowing an official sport in both the winter and summer games in 2007, and it seems to be getting national attention.
"The country really looks to Michigan for their Special Olympics program," she said.
Smythe said in order for a new event to become official, it first must be approved by a state committee, then the national committee and then it becomes international.
"It's going to take awhile," she said.
Smythe said if Michigan Special Olympics officials invite her to explain why stationary rowing should be an official sport, she'll appear before them in October.
Because stationary rowing is relatively simple to do, Smythe said she's confident it will be approved as an official event.
"The learning curve isn't enormous," she said.
Most Special Olympics participants can be accommodated to use a stationary rower, Smythe said. Even a participant in a wheelchair was able to take part.
Smythe said she's optimistic she'll be able to appear before the state Special Olympics committee, and that stationary rowing will be approved as an official event.
"All indicators are that it's going to happen," she said. "It's meant to be. It's great to do."
Smythe, fitness director at Aspirus Keweenaw Fitness Center in Laurium, said she was at the Michigan Special Olympic games June 3-5 in Mount Pleasant at Central Michigan University overseeing the stationary rowing exhibition event.
Smythe said as part of the stationary rowing exhibition, participants did 500-meter challenges. They could also use a virtual interactive computer program.
"They could actually see themselves in rowing shells (on a television screen in front of them)," she said.
There were many Michigan Special Olympics officials at Mount Pleasant, and Smythe said they're excited about the possibility of it becoming an official sport.
"They're all lobbying for me," she said. "They want to see it happen."
Smythe said she began the process to make stationary rowing an official sport in both the winter and summer games in 2007, and it seems to be getting national attention.
"The country really looks to Michigan for their Special Olympics program," she said.
Smythe said in order for a new event to become official, it first must be approved by a state committee, then the national committee and then it becomes international.
"It's going to take awhile," she said.
Smythe said if Michigan Special Olympics officials invite her to explain why stationary rowing should be an official sport, she'll appear before them in October.
Because stationary rowing is relatively simple to do, Smythe said she's confident it will be approved as an official event.
"The learning curve isn't enormous," she said.
Most Special Olympics participants can be accommodated to use a stationary rower, Smythe said. Even a participant in a wheelchair was able to take part.
Smythe said she's optimistic she'll be able to appear before the state Special Olympics committee, and that stationary rowing will be approved as an official event.
"All indicators are that it's going to happen," she said. "It's meant to be. It's great to do."