Medical Requirements for Athletes
Medical requirements for Athletes
In order for an athlete to participate in training or competition he/she must complete an Athlete Participation Form which includes a section on the health status of the athlete relevant to their participation in Special Olympics. It also provides where necessary medical personnel and/or the Emergency Department in a hospital with essential information should the athlete require medical treatment.
This form must be updated every five (5) years and/or on any occasion when there has been any significant change in the athlete’s health since the athlete’s most recent medical examination was completed.
Please note – in light of medical research indicating that up to15% of individuals with Down syndrome have a mal-alignment of the cervical vertebrae C-1 and C-2 in the neck known as Atlanto-axial Instability, exposing such individuals to possible neck injury if they participate in activities that hyper-extend or radically flex the neck or upper spine, athletes with Down syndrome who wish to participate in the following, equestrian, artistic gymnastics, dive starts in swimming, diving, pentathlon, high jump, squat lifts, football (soccer), butterfly stroke, alpine skiing, snowboarding and any warm-ups placing undue stress on the head and neck must have a full radiological examination establishing the absence of Atlanto-axial Instability before he/she may participate in these sports or events .
To help you to complete your form please refer to this sample Athlete Participation Form.
The Athlete Participation Form must be submitted, signed where appropriate, on behalf of any athlete who wishes to participate in the programme. This form also grants permission to make certain limited uses of an athlete’s image and likeness, acknowledge the potential impact on an athlete with Down syndrome participating in certain sports and authorises Special Olympics to make arrangements for emergency medical treatment when necessary. It also provides permission for participation in the Special Olympics Healthy Athlete program.