During the summer of 2010, dietetics student Sara Staubach had the opportunity to intern at the Special Olympics International headquarters in Washington DC. While there she helped develop an exercise and nutrition education program called TRAIN (Testing Recreational Activities and Improving Nutrition) with the help of four other interns from Missouri State University. TRAIN is designed for Special Olympics athletes to raise awareness and promote the importance of including exercise and healthy nutrition in everyday routine. While in DC, the interns also had the opportunity to do a lot of sightseeing and experience living in a big city.
Special Olympics has high hopes for how TRAIN will be implemented. Right now they are working on using the program at individual state games. During the Missouri State games in Joplin, Sara along with the four TRAIN interns and many volunteers from the Student Dietetic Association, ran the program for the athletes that participated in the Missouri winter games. There was a tremendous response at the games, having more than 125 athletes participate in TRAIN.
The next step for TRAIN after being tested at state games will be to have it included in the 2011 summer games in Athens, Greece. Athletes from around the world will be gathered to not only compete but to also learn about different cultures and experiences of other athletes through group discussions and educational programs like TRAIN. Sara along with all the interns that have worked on TRAIN over the past two years may have the opportunity to go to the games in Greece and help coordinate the program for the athletes. The games will be held June 26- July 4, 2011.