North America’s athlete leaders are ready to take on big challenges

The athletes’ representatives chosen for the Special Olympics North America Athletes Congress see themselves as leaders. Leading is what they plan to do before, during and after the March conference. They know they have been given the power to discuss difficult topics and find solutions to big challenges.

That’s the power they want to use.

Athlete leadership “Pushes the status quo, changes the narrative, forces people at the top to see from a different point of view,” says Ben VeldenAthlete leader of Special Olympic Games OregoN. “I look at how far we have come – from 20, 30, 50 years ago to where we are now.”

A global emphasis on athlete leadership

That long-term view is justified. He is one of 26 athlete delegates attending the first-ever Congress of Athletes held in the United States Special Olympics North America Region (SONA)..

The conference will be held in early March in Grand Rapids, Michigan, for athlete delegates from Canada, the Caribbean and the United States.

The main goal is to elect delegates to advance to the Global Congress of Athletes (GAC) 2027 in Santiago, Chile. Athlete delegates will also choose the four key issues impacting the Special Olympics movement; these topics will then be discussed in more detail at the 2027 GAC. Each Special Olympics Region will hold its own Congress of Athletes to do the same.

Topics identified by more than 200 responses to the SONA Athlete Survey were discussed during online meetings with senior staff from the SONA region. They introduced the topics and their perspectives as contributors to SONA, while the delegates listened, made suggestions and, most importantly, asked questions.

Each athlete delegate represents thousands of other athletes

The theme running through these meetings was the need to represent SONA athletes in the best and most informed way.

“Leadership means giving a voice to others. It comes with responsibility, but it makes me proud to represent my Chapter and Region well. It’s not just about me, it’s about the athletes who chose me to represent them,” says Erin Mageean athlete leader of Nova Scotia Special Olympics who attends the SONA Athletes Congress.

The delegates of the Congress of Athletes are well aware of the position of responsibility they share. Many athletes in the SONA region have not had the training, experience and opportunities that conference attendees have had due to differences in funding, availability of programming and other resources between programs. Opportunities for leadership positions can also be difficult to find.

“Often people think athletes can’t express how they feel, and they push them aside,” says Athlete leader Stacey Johnston-Gleason by Montana Special Olympics.

“So those who can, like us, need to step up and become leaders and do it for them. We need to fight for them.”

Prepare for discussions with long-lasting impact

That part of the responsibility is on many delegates’ minds in the weeks before Congress.
“I talk to teammates, my Program Athlete Leadership Council, mentors, coaches, parents and guardians to understand the challenges and priorities,” says Agustin Lara by Colorado Special Olympics.

Every two weeks, Jos Alters by Kansas Special Olympics meets with program leaders to prepare for his work as a delegate.

“I’m trying to put my finger on everything I can for Congress and get involved,” Alters said.

Congress of Athletes will highlight what Special Olympics athletes think needs to be fixed, says Brett Griffithsan athlete leader of Manitoba Special Olympics.

“Every challenge that other athletes put forward is important,” says Griffiths. “If it’s a challenge for them, it’s worth talking about it and seeing if we can change it.”