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Official Statements

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SONM Updates regarding events, competitions, and cancellations through October 31, 2020

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As the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic continue, Special Olympics New Mexico (SONM) has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Four Corners Invitational, the 2020 Holiday Classic, and all qualifying events and practices that lead up to these events. Access to training facilities, minimum training standards, and the health and safety of our athletes, coaches, Unified Partners, and volunteers were the driving factors in how this decision was made. With guidance from Special Olympics Inc. and Special Olympics North America, the SONM staff and our Return to Play Task Force will continue to monitor COVID-19 developments at the state and local levels to ensure the SONM Return to Play Plan is updated as needed to maintain proper health and safety measures.

Planned Events Including Virtual and In-Person Experiences
SONM Virtual Games, June 29-July 11

SONM Golf, August 24 (Tentative)

Virtual Equestrian Event, September 11-12

Golf Classic Tournament Fundraiser, October 5

Virtual Basketball Skills Contest, October 24

Virtual Halloween Dance, October 31

State Bowling Tournament, November 13-15

Virtual Walk across New Mexico Challenge (Dates TBD)

Continuation of the Fit 5 Challenge (Dates TBD)

Competition Cancellations
Four Corners Invitational, August 21-22
-Cancellation includes all training, Area competitions, and all Special Olympics Health initiatives.

State Equestrian Competition September 11-12
-Cancellation includes Area competitions; There will be a virtual (video based) competition in place of the traditional competition.

Holiday Classic Competition, October 30-31
-Cancellation includes all training, Area competitions, and all Special Olympics Health initiatives.

Special Olympics New Mexico extends postponement of sports training and competitions through June 30

Greetings Local Program and Head Coaches:

I hope this message finds you all doing well and coping with the COIVD-19 stay-at-home order, business restrictions and physical distancing that has become standard in our lives.  Though several of our counties are seeing increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases, the majority of our state seems to be leveling out a little bit and our Governor has begun to phase nonessential businesses back into operation on a very limited basis.  There is hope that we are progressing past this pandemic but physical distancing, face masks and hand washing will be with us for the foreseeable future and, in my opinion, most of us will not feel truly safe until there is a vaccine developed that will eradicate the virus.

Special Olympics has a responsibility to protect our vulnerable athlete population as well as all of our volunteers at every level.  We have an additional risk calculation that requires us to be more vigilant as to how and when we can start phasing in our traditional Sports and Health program.  In response to this responsibility, Special Olympics, Inc. (SOI) has extended the postponement of all in-person activities and events through June 30, 2020.  This includes training, competition, fundraising and meetings.  The SONM staff will continue to work from home and the Chapter Office will remain closed.

Return to Play Task Force

Special Olympics North America (SONA) has assembled a Return to Play Task Force to develop protocols, guidelines, and best practices that will be implemented as states begin to offer training and competition in the future.  Additionally, we are waiting to hear from American Specialties, the national insurer of Special Olympics, as to what new requirements and mandates will need to be implemented to ensure we train and compete in the safest environment possible moving forward.

It is in the best interest of our athletes and our program as a whole for SONM to establish our own Return to Play Task Force.  This task force will look at establishing common protocols that will apply to all sports as well as sport specific protocols.  If you, or someone in your delegation would like to serve on this task force, please email me [link].  Once we have assembled, we will meet weekly via Zoom. There is a lot of professional expertise and talent in our movement. This is a great place to capitalize on that which will make us better prepared to move forward.

Fit 5 Challenge

The response to the Fit 5 Challenge on Facebook has been great and I want to extend my congratulations to all who participated in the #SONMFit5 Challenge. This is the final week of the challenge so we are shifting gears and stepping up the game a little bit by competing in the Southwest Border Battle.

Southwest Border Battle

New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado and Utah (the Four Corners states) have come together to bring you the Southwest Border Battle beginning May 4. This is a multi-state collaboration engaging Special Olympics athletes through wellness. During this 6 week challenge we will be focusing on 7 areas of wellness: physical, emotional, social, intellectual, environmental, financial, and spiritual. There will be a daily challenge to complete focusing on one of the areas of wellness. Get ready for a fun filled 6 weeks where you will learn more about yourself as a whole.

COVID-19 has proven to be a major challenge to our Special Olympics program and in our daily lives.  It is important that we stay connected so I encourage you all to keep reaching out to our athletes to just say “hi,” to keep in contact with your Area Directors and other programs in your Area, and to participate in the statewide zoom meeting.  I am looking forward to talking with all of you.

For the Love of the Game,

Chris Page

Law Enforcement Torch Run Fundraising Statement

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Greetings LETR officers,

We hope this letter finds you well. Amidst the challenging times we are going through, Special Olympics New Mexico and our Law Enforcement Torch Run program remains resilient and hopeful for better times to come. Our Special Olympics athletes and their families are our top priority and we are doing all that we can to ensure their health and wellness is being preserved during this outbreak.

Cancellation of the Special Olympics New Mexico 2020 State Summer Games

Recently, Special Olympics New Mexico announced that “after careful consideration, we have made additional decisions regarding the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on our organization and community.” In abiding to guidelines from the CDC, the State of New Mexico, and Special Olympics, Inc. (SOI), Special Olympics New Mexico will adhere to the following guidelines through May 31:

  • Cancellation of all sports training (practices).
  • Cancellation of all competitions including area qualifying competitions and State Summer Games.

The Impact on Special Olympics Athletes

For many of our athletes, Special Olympics is either their main source or only source of health, fitness, and social and emotional wellness. Because of the Special Olympics sports training and competition program, they not only benefit from the joy of sport, but from the spirit of competition, and gain dignity from their own personal achievements. Because of Special Olympics Health wellness and education initiatives, athletes can receive free screenings and services that can be more difficult for them to come by outside of Special Olympics. The Unified Champion Schools opportunities foster a level of peer-to-peer, youth connection and inclusion that is unmatched in other educational settings.

How your LETR Agency and local businesses can help

Through Torch Run fundraising, we can continue to ensure that Special Olympics sports training, competition, along with health and educational initiatives, will remain intact for all athletes and their families when times are tough and all other areas are uncertain. As we navigate through the health and community guidelines set by health organizations, our local governments, and Special Olympics to combat the spread of the coronavirus, we ask that you first focus on keeping your health and safety a priority, and second remain hopeful in our fundraising efforts to ensure our Flame of Hope never loses it light for our athletes. At this time we request the cancellation of all agency fundraising activities that involve mass gatherings of more than 10 people, and we encourage you to consider hosting Online Agency Fundraising Campaigns, partnering with local businesses deemed essential by the state of NM, and others who can raise funds using our Torch Icon campaigns. And if you see our athletes either online or out and about, please check in with them. What constitutes as social distancing to us in reality can lead to social isolation for our athletes. We want to keep in constant contact with them as much as possible. We know that despite government mandates leading to temporary business closures and suspended events such as our own State Summer Games, that you as first responders join other frontline leaders in serving our communities. That is why we say thank you. Thank you for living the LETR Oath, which concludes with:

“I will protect, defend, and befriend all those who seek the joy of Special Olympics sport, and I will always be a Guardian of Flame Of Hope.”

Special Olympics New Mexico (SONM) Coronavirus Official Statement

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The health and safety of the Special Olympics New Mexico community, including our athletes, families, volunteers, and employees has always been our top priority. We have been closely monitoring information about the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) nationwide and within our state.

Due to recent developments tied to the global spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), including a case tied to a U.S. Special Olympics athlete, Special Olympics New Mexico is suspending all sport training and competition activities, as well as fundraising activities (including New Mexico Law Enforcement Torch Run activities) involving our athletes through March 31, 2020, at which time we will reevaluate the situation. Be assured, we will remain in contact with all SONM Area Directors, Heads of Delegation, and coaches to communicate any updates or changes regarding the above.

Our actions and utmost caution is necessary to protect the health and safety of our SONM athletes, and to ensure we are doing everything in our power to prevent the coronavirus and illness from impacting our organization and community.

Resources & CDC Guidelines

  • https://cv.nmhealth.org/
  • https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
  • Steps to Prevent Illness (from the CDC website)
    • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
    • If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
    • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
    • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
    • Stay home if you are sick, except to get medical care.
    • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze & throw used tissues into the trash.

Please share this messaging with your delegations and don’t hesitate to call the SONM State Office if you have any questions.

-Randy Mascorella

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