Facts behind the Special Olympics

In June 1962, Eunice Kennedy Shriver started a summer day-camp for children and adults with intellectual disabilities at her home in Maryland, the United States, to explore their capabilities in a variety of sports and physical activities.

On July 20, 1968, the global Special Olympics movement got underway with the First International Special Olympics Games held at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois. It had 1,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities from 26 US states and Canada competing in athletics, floor hockey and aquatics.

The summer sports cover athletics, aquatics (swimming, diving), gymnastics, basketball, weight-lifting, bowling, roller skating, golf, bocce, cycling, softball, equestrian events, tennis, football (soccer), volleyball, badminton, table-tennis, team handball, sailing, kayaking and judo.

The winter sports cover alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, floor hockey, speed skating, figure skating, snowshoeing and snowboarding.

The Special Olympics currently serves 2.25 million persons with intellectual disabilities in more than 200 programs in more than 150 countries.

(China Daily 09/11/2007 page20)