Special Olympics Figure Skating is figure skating where all participants have physical or mental disabilities. It is one of the few judged special olympics events.

Special Olympics figure skating is a competitive sport meant for athletes with physical or mental disabilities; it is one of only a few judged Special Olympics sports. Special Olympics figure skating features single and pair jumps, lifts and many of the same features as figure skating. Athletes concentrate on interpreting the rhythm and tempo of music through dance steps on the ice. As in all Special Olympics sports, athletes are grouped in competition divisions according to ability level, age and gender.

The goal of figure skating is to perform a dance routine to music and be scored by a panel of judges; the athlete with the highest score wins the competition.

Special Olympics figure skating was first included in the 1977 Special Olympics World Winter Games. More than 100 athletes competed in figure skating competitions held at the 2005 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Nagano, Japan. The Special Olympics Athlete Participation Report stated in 2005 more than 8,000 athletes reported participating in figure skating.

Ice Skates

Figure skating training requires a lot of time and dedication from athletes and their coaches. The first phase of figure skating training focuses on athletes becoming comfortable with the various skills and elements required of high-level competitive figure skating. Once athletes have progressed, they must work with coached in developing a competitive routine. These routines are practiced extensively to ensure athletes are prepared for competition.

Attitude - a leg position in which the free leg is lifted behind the body with the knee bent at an approximately 120-degree angle

Arabesque - a leg position in which the free leg is extended behind the body in a straight line

Axel - the only jump counted as a jump element that starts from skating forward; an axel jump has an extra half rotation (180 degrees), and as all jumps is landed with the skater gliding backwards

Butterfly Jump - a flying spin with a two-foot takeoff

Camel - a spin position during which the free leg is extended in the air in an arabesque position parallel to the ice

Clean Program - a skating program without falls, hands on the ground in jumps and spins, or illegal use of toe picks in edge jumps that can all result in point deductions

Combination - two or more elements (jumps, spin positions) performed in succession

Discipline - a part of skating governed by unique rules; currently there are four disciplines: men's singles, women's singles, pair skating, and ice dancing

Free Leg - the leg not on the ice

Lift - a pairs and ice dance element in which one skater lifts his or her partner while rotating; pairs lifts, unlike dance, go over the head

Lutz - a toepick-assisted jump with an entrance from a back outside edge and landing on the back outside edge of the opposite foot

Quad - a quadruple jump; a jump with four full rotations (1440 degrees) in the air

Short Program - the first and shorter of the two programs performed by singles and pair skaters in competition; this program

has certain required elements that must be completed

Triple - a jump with three full rotations (1080 degrees) in the air (3 and a half rotations for the triple axel)

http://www.specialolympics.org/Special+Olympics+Public+Website/English/Coach/Sports_Offered/Figure+Skating.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_figure_skating_terms