Healthier Bodies, Minds, and Communities: Celebrating National Recreational Sports and Fitness Day with the University of Wisconsin-Madison

Sports and fitness are fundamental elements of the Special Olympics movement. Through year-round sports training, competitions and inclusive fitness opportunities, Special Olympics athletes are empowered to improve their health, build self-confidence and experience belonging to their community. At the heart of the Special Olympics mission is a reminder that movement doesn’t have to come with a scoreboard or trophy to create a lasting impact. This focus on participation over performance is emphasized on National Recreational Sports and Fitness Day.

Observed annually on February 22 in the United States, National Recreational Sports and Fitness Day promotes fitness and participation in recreational sports for people of all ages and abilities. This day celebrates the importance of recreational sports and fitness in promoting health, wellness and community involvement, especially on college campuses.

National Recreational Sports and Fitness Day is supported by NIRSA: Leaders in Collegiate Recreation, an organization committed to advancing recreation programs on hundreds of campuses across the country. Today, the association is made up of thousands of leaders in the recreation and wellness world, from intramural league administrators and sports club members to fitness program facilitators.

Below is how the University of Wisconsin-Madison is getting their campus moving Special Olympic Games Unified Sports® and uniform fitness.

Unified Sports promotes social inclusion by linking athletes with and without intellectual disabilities (ID) to the same sports team. At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, through the Department of University Recreation & Wellness and in partnership with Special Olympics Wisconsin, a passion for inclusive sports led to the formation of the Ties for Special Olympics.

Throughout the year, the club participates in weekly Unified intramural sports competitions and participates in regional and national NIRSA Championship Series tournaments, providing athletes of all levels the opportunity to work together as a team and build relationships with their peers while staying active. When the club is not competing, they are focused on developing healthy habits and working on leadership skills during dance-focused Unified Fitness practice sessions. Every Thursday evening, the Badgers gather at one of their state-of-the-art recreation centers for an evening of fun and expressive movement!

These practice sessions are much more than an opportunity for athletes to perform their favorite dance move. Club member and Special Olympics Wisconsin (SOWI) athlete Annie Mulligan views these practice sessions as a community-building opportunity that centers on movement. When asked about her favorite part of Unified Fitness, Annie shared, “I love meeting new people and spending time with old friends.” “Every week is a different theme, so I get to move around a lot and learn new moves,” Annie added. While some simply enjoy the opportunity to dance, SOWI athlete Chris Black Jelliffe noted that he enjoys the friendly competition aspect of Unified Fitness sessions, saying, “My favorite part is the dance battle we have between dances.”

With extensive support from Club President, Taylor Hooyman, and Unified Sports Chair, Caleb Balmer, the Unified Fitness classes are taught by Riley Lynch, but largely determined by participant preferences. Athletes often choose the music theme, and at other times the group dresses up in fun costumes, creating the feeling that we are in this together. The autonomy offered to participants perfectly embodies the essence of recreational fitness: to elect to move in a way that feels feasible and enjoyable. Fitness is designed for real lives and real schedules, meeting people where they are, without the pressure of long-term commitments.

For those who feel self-conscious about fitness routines in the traditional gym setting, exercise classes can serve as an accessible alternative. Group exercise classes provide participants with structure and guidance from a fitness professional so they can focus on what’s really important: getting their bodies moving! The class format has also provided the club with a unique opportunity to play an active role in the fitness journeys of their peers. This sentiment was echoed by SOWI athlete Alison Mushett, who said: “I like being active with friends because they make me feel happy!”

This joy is exactly what fitness programming aims to cultivate, helping athletes feel supported in maximizing their health and wellness by developing the knowledge, skills and motivation needed to live healthy and active lives. These experiences also reflect Special Olympics’ commitment to inclusive health care, meaning that people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) can take full advantage of the same health options available to people without IDD.

Join Special Olympics, NIRSA and the Badgers for Special Olympics in celebrating National Recreational Sports and Fitness Day. This day honors the idea that fitness is not exclusive: it belongs to everyone who wants to play, move and dance like no one is watching! From championship games to evening walks in the park, recreational exercise reminds us that being active is for everyone and every ability.

Special Olympics and NIRSA have been programmatic partners since 2015. If you would like to learn more or get your college involved in Special Olympics, visit the Special Olympics college programming page or email socollege@specialolympics.org.