To Special Pops Tennis athletes, volunteers, and supporters:
Based on the updated Special Olympics Georgia announcement (see below), all 18 SPT training sites are now closed through May 1, 2020. We will continue to share updates related to the SOGA Summer Games and the resumption of our training sites as more decisions are made and participation deadlines are adjusted. I ask that in the interim, we all take the necessary precautions to stay safe and healthy. I fully trust that we will get through these difficult times, but for now, we must all remain diligent in our efforts.
Stay safe and healthy —– so that we may in the near future again return to our programs to Play Tennis; Make Friends; Live Life!!!
Jim Hamm
Special Pops Tennis – Executive Director
(404) 702-5820 cell
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March 17, 2019
Due to recent developments regarding the coronavirus Special Olympics Georgia (SOGA) has decided to extend canceling/postponing all Special Olympics sports practices, games and competitions through Friday, May 1, 2020. There are several outside organizations and host facilities that have already determined that local spring games are cancelled and we anticipate more to come. Additionally, the availability of volunteer groups is questionable as many civic groups, churches, companies, etc. are advising their members against being in large groups. There are also fundraising initiatives that are questionable which will inevitably impact local funding on some level. All of these factors have contributed to our decision.
We do encourage you to work with all of your local sponsors on shifting their funding focus from spring games to the other programming you have throughout the year. Please encourage them to continue to contribute.
Here is how we ask all local programs to proceed with activities through May 1st:
· All sport practices should be cancelled.
· All sport events should be cancelled.
· All health and wellness programming should be cancelled.
· Fundraising events may proceed on a case-by-case basis, meaning we will carefully assess the risk in collaboration with local or national health agencies. Special Olympics athlete involvement needs to be reviewed so that the safety of the athletes is not compromised. Athletes who may want to participate in fundraising events should do so after consulting their parents/guardians if they are not their own guardian and all should feel comfortable that it will not jeopardize their health and well-being.
· Unified Champion Schools activities happening within the schools will not be impacted by this decision. All will be determined, rather, by the associated school district and will follow their direction. We are all starting to see school districts make their own decisions and the recent suspension of high school sports by the Georgia High School Athletic Association will impact activities as well.
A decision regarding the state-level Summer Games will be made by April 20. We fully acknowledge that athletes will not be in a position to train and prepare for the SOGA Summer Games. We are, however, spending more time looking at our options and will be consulting with the SOGA Board before making a final decision.
We are all extremely disappointed to be in a position where we cannot offer every opportunity possible to athletes across the state but this decision is of course based on the current circumstances and again, with everyone’s health and well-being at the forefront.
We will continue to be in communication with you over the coming weeks and we look forward to resuming activities as soon as possible.
…..
Georgia Milton-Sheats
Chief Executive Officer
Special Olympics Georgia | 6046 Financial Dr., Norcross, GA 30071
