Special Olympics Pennsylvania (SOPA) and the Lancaster Family YMCA renewed their partnership to provide increased fitness and training opportunities for athletes with intellectual disabilities. Effective Sept. 1, the partnership continued to connect athletes with two Y facilities in the Lancaster County region. Both organizations share a similar mission of working to improve the quality of life and well-being for the community.

This partnership helps alleviate Special Olympics' struggle to find suitable locations to train athletes and host local competitions. Athletes in the Special Olympic programs have access to the Y facilities where they can train for competitive meets, improve fitness levels, and build conditioning skills needed to meet the physical challenges of sports training. Athletes can also train for Olympic-type sports year-round as opposed to in eight-week sessions.

Developing healthy habits is another big challenge facing the athletes and their families. To help address this challenge, the Lancaster Family YMCA offers a discount for athletes and their families. With the support from the Y, athletes have regular access to health and wellness programs, group exercise, and nutritionists as well as open gym and swim time. The partnership with the Lancaster Family YMCA not only helps athletes continuously improve their conditioning and skills, but also helps to educate athletes and families about the importance of nutrition and leading a healthy lifestyle.

The Lancaster Family YMCA joins more than 30 other YMCA facilities in Pennsylvania that have partnered with SOPA to increase opportunities for athletes to develop lifelong fitness goals and reach their full potential. For more information about the partnership and to find local opportunities to get involved with SOPA and the local YMCAs, visit http://www.specialolympicspa.org.