The Unified Sports Program is an additional means of carrying out and fulfilling the mission of the Fitness and equity act through Special Olympics. Teams are constructed in such a way as to provide training and competition opportunities that meaningfully challenge and involve all athletes. These opportunities lead to improved sports skills, higher self-esteem, equal status among peers and new friendships. The program brings all students together with a motto of "On the field we are teammates... off the field we are friends."