Dagupan City - Special Olympics Philippines successfully conducted the 2009 National Games. The event provided competition opportunity to 650 athletes in 10 different sports. The event was also a screening platform for the atheletes who will compete in the 2011 Special Olympics World summer Games scheduled to be held at Athens, Greece. Alex Babst, SOP National Program Director said” SO Philippines is only for the intellectually-disabled athletes with either an I.Q (intelligence quotient) of 70 or below, with Down syndrome, autistic, or with cerebral palsy.

He further said that they have undergone trainings principally in motor coordination, following of instructions and doing activities on their own without external help on a year-round basis conducted by volunteer coaches and teachers.

"Because of the shame and stigma that accompany their condition, most of the athletes are described as non-verbal and shy before they joined the sports fest," Babst said.
"However, through sports, the intellectually-disabled gained self-confidence and became friendly and outgoing individuals," he added.

Governor Amado T. Espino, Jr. and Lingayen Mayor Jonas Castañeda were actively involved in the organization of the National Games.