MARIETTA, Ga., April 30, 2014 – The fourth annual USA Gymnastics Special Olympics Championships is scheduled for May 3 at the Cobb County Gymnastics Center in Marietta, Ga. The annual event features competition in artistic gymnastics (men, women and unified), rhythmic gymnastics (individual, group and unified), and TeamGym. For the first time, the competition includes international participants with 16 attending from Canada and 2 athletes from Mexico. Teams and individuals from 10 different states will also participate totaling more than 130 competitors.

The competition schedule is:

  • 8 a.m., rhythmic (Levels 3 and 4), men’s (all levels) gymnastics and women’s (Level 1) gymnastics
  • 10:30 a.m., rhythmic (Level B) and TeamGym; 11:45 a.m., rhythmic (Levels A and 2) and women’s (Levels A, B and 2) gymnastics
  • 3:00 p.m., rhythmic (Level 1) and women’s (Levels 3 and 4) gymnastics;
  • 5:40 p.m., gala that includes a team march-in

Both artistic and rhythmic gymnastics competition are for skill Levels A, B, 1, 2, 3 and 4. Competition includes both individual and Unified gymnasts. A Unified gymnast is a partner without disabilities who will compete the same routine as the Special Olympics athlete, and the pair’s scores will be combined for a team total. For rhythmic group, there are an equal number of Special Olympics athletes and Unified partners in each group.

TeamGym is a competitive version of group gymnastics that features squads of athletes performing together in two events – group floor exercise and group jump. TeamGym may have both Unified partners and Special Olympics athletes.

For more information, please go to usagym.org/specialolympics. Men’s and women’s artistic gymnastics will follow Special Olympics rules, while TeamGym will use USA Gymnastics rules. Rhythmic gymnastics will follow USA Gymnastics Festival Rhythmic rules for competition.

The USA Gymnastics Special Olympics Championships is hosted locally by Chattooga Gymnastics, Special Olympics Georgia and Cobb County Special Olympics Gymnastics Team. Procter & Gamble provided a variety of products to the athletes, coaches, judges and family members. A sponsor of USA Gymnastics, P&G is one of Special Olympics’ longstanding partners and has supported the movement for more than 32 years.

Special Olympics is an international organization that changes lives through the power of sport by encouraging and empowering people with intellectual disabilities, promoting acceptance for all, and fostering communities of understanding and respect worldwide. Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the Special Olympics movement has grown from a few hundred athletes to more than 3.7 million athletes in over 170 countries in all regions of the world, providing year-round sports training, athletic competition and other related programs. Special Olympics provides people with intellectual disabilities continuing opportunities to realize their potential, develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, and experience joy and friendship. Visit Special Olympics at www.specialolympics.org. Engage with us on: Twitter @specialolympics; fb.com/specialolympics; youtube.com/specialolympicshq, and specialolympicsblog.wordpress.com.