The effect of Special Olympics participation on community integration.

Involvement with organized competitive sports by individuals with mental retardation, particularly Special Olympics, has been thought to contribute to well-being in a variety of ways. In the current investigation, differential impacts on community integration, depending on the severity of the disability, are indicated. Individuals with moderate to severe mental retardation showed a positive association between competitive sport involvement and general involvement in the community, while for those with mild retardation, the relationship was somewhat negative. These findings are discussed with respect to programmatic implications.