Figure Skating Fact Sheet Figure Skating Special Olympics figure skating is an internationally popular event that was one of the most popular spectator sports at the 1997 World Winter Games in Toronto and Collingwood, Ontario, Canada. As in all Special Olympics sports, athletes are grouped in divisions according to the athletes' ability level, age and gender. Figure skating was first included in the 1977 Winter Games.
Competition is offered for men and women in the singles, pairs and ice dancing events.
Additionally, Special Olympics offers Unified Sports events which pairs an athlete with mental retardation and a partner athlete without mental retardation as a team and they compete in the pairs and ice dancing events. Unified Sports promotes inclusion and teamwork in a competitive sports event. Special Olympics figure skating is unique in that it has a complete badge program to allow for a consistent progression of learning, and a reward system to encourage the skater. The program is based upon the United States Figure Skating Association Badge Program. Special Olympics has been recognized by, and is affiliated with, the United States Figure Skating Association, Ice Skating Institute of America and Professional Skaters Association.