December 16 2025 NEWSWORTHY WILL NOT BE PUBLISHED NEXT WEEK. WE WILL BE BACK ON DECEMBER 30TH. HAPPY HOLIDAYS! At the request of the Athlete Leadership Council, SOSD will be amplifying messaging about sportsmanship. Sports are amazing… Please respect the Game. In sports, there’s nothing more unattractive and unpleasant than poor winners and sore losers. Poor winners brag about their performance and blow their own horn to make themselves look good. They don’t care if they bother or upset their opponents, teammates, or coaches.   Sore losers complain, criticize, and make excuses for their performance or the outcome. Instead of taking ownership and responsibility for what happened in a game or match, they blame the weather, officials, coaches, teammates, opponents, or just bad luck.   Winning with dignity Good winners are respectful, humble, and kind to teammates and opponents. They aren’t concerned about building themselves up in the eyes of others. Instead, they praise their opponents’ effort, compliment their fine play, and encourage them to continue working hard. These players have a selfless mindset and it shows in what they do and say to others. Losing with grace Good losers are level-headed, optimistic, and encouraging to their teammates, coaches, and fans. They find the good in the bad and the not-so-good, and they understand it’s okay to fail and be disappointed at times. Good losers don’t belittle opponents, blame officials, complain about coaching decisions and strategy, or criticize their teammates’ play. They understand that you win as a team and lose as a team, and that no one person determines either outcome. Additionally, they recognize that often after a loss, the best course of action is to simply acknowledge their opponents’ good play and move on. SPORTS Coaches, athletes, and fans of SOSD, please join us for the 2026 Unity Conference Conference Agenda SOSD Coaches, Athletes, Family Registration UNIFIED CHAMPION SCHOOLS FRESH MERCH The latest Spread the Word apparel is here—fresh, bold, and made for inclusion. Whether you’re prepping for the Day of Activation or repping the movement every day, we’ve got tees, hoodies and gear you’ll love. Shop here. IN OTHER NEWS Special Olympics has teamed up with Little Words Project on a limited-edition Champion Bracelet! 25% of proceeds go directly to the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games in Minnesota! Wear “Champion” proudly and show your support for our athletes’ journey to USA Games. Purchase the Champion Bracelet LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN Location Date Huron January 30 Watertown February 7 Vermillion February 14 Lead February 20 Spearfish February 21 Rapid City February 22 Brookings March 14 Pierre March 21 Learn More INFO LIBRARY START YOUR SPECIAL OLYMPICS JOURNEY HERE If you are new to Special Olympics South Dakota and looking for a Delegation, or if you are interested in changing your Delegation, Click Here to get started! This link can also be found on the SOSD website. Stay tuned for your 2026 Dance Themes The Accessible IEP, LLC is a company dedicated to assisting families with navigating the world of Special Education. Click Here to learn more. Click Here for Website To stay up to date on the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games or to get involved, visit www.2026usagames.org Click Here For Roster Click for the 2026 Schedule of Events TORCH Winter 2024 TORCH Summer 2025 3•21 Fun Friends is a social group for families with young children, ages 0-10, who have a disability in the Sioux Falls area. Click to learn more Click to learn more about the exciting things going on at New Directions Down Syndrome Association Donate Visit our online calendar for event updates! Nick Moen, President/CEO   Johna Thum, VP Field Services  * Julie Briggs, VP Outreach / Unified Champion Schools Cade Lyon, Area Director Unified Champion Schools / Sports Haley Zerr, Head of Sports Competition Cathy Grubb, Sports Director / Black Hills Area Carrie Gerdeman, Sports Director / Black Hills Area Siddharth (Sid) Mehta, Sports Director / Northeast Area  Michelle Paulsen, LETR Event Manager * Todd Bradwisch, VP LETR  Jill Kvanli, Marketing Manager * Lane Riedel, Office Manager Nick Mills, Administrative Assistant * John McHale, Sports Assistant-Data Entry Special Olympics South Dakota | www.sosd.org      ...read more read less