From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Special Olympics is an international organization created to help people with intellectual disabilities develop self-confidence, social skills and a sense of personal accomplishment through sports training and competition. Among their other activities, Special Olympics conducts the Special Olympics World Games every four years.

The Special Olympics was founded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver in 1962. Shriver��s intellectually disabled sister, the late Rosemary Kennedy, is often credited as her inspiration to create Special Olympics.

The Special Olympics originally conducted a series of sports camps known as Camp Shriver, beginning in June 1962. These evolved into an international sporting competition for intellectually disabled athletes. The first International Special Olympics Games were held in Chicago, Illinois, USA, in 1968. The first Winter Special Olympics were held in February 1977 in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, USA.

In 1988, the Special Olympics was recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). It is the only sports organization authorized by the IOC to use the name Olympics in its title.

On October 30, 2004, President Bush signed into law the "Special Olympics Sport and Empowerment Act," Public Law 108-406. The bill authorized funding for its Healthy Athletes, Education, and Worldwide Expansion programs. Co-sponsored by Representatives Roy Blunt (R-MO), and Steny Hoyer (D-MD), and Senators Rick Santorum (R-PA) and Harry Reid (D-NV), the bills were passed by unanimous consent in both chambers.

In July of 2006, the first United States National Special Olympic games were held at Iowa State University. Teams from all 50 states and the District of Columbia participated.

Participation

Over two million athletes of all ages are involved in Special Olympics sports programs in more than 150 countries. The organization offers year-round training and competition in 26 Olympic-type summer and winter sports. There is no charge to participate in Special Olympics. Events are geared to accommodate a variety of levels of ability so that athletes can compete with others who have similar capabilities.

The Special Olympics Oath is "Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt."

Popular culture

Intellectual disability, like other disabilities, are a popular subject matter for simple off-color jokes, circulated through the media or by word of mouth. The disability is frequently referenced by mentioning the Special Olympics. They have also received more elaborate attention from a variety of media:

The 2005 film The Ringer, about a man who pretends to be intellectually disabled in order to cheat at the Special Olympics, was made with the approval of Special Olympics.

In the South Park episode "Up the Down Steroid", Eric Cartman pretends to have a disability in order to win at the Special Olympics Games.

In 2002, the United States Postal Service issued a postage stamp honoring the Special Olympics.

Stephen Lynch created a song about the Special Olympics.

The Loretta Claiborne Story is based on a mentally disabled girl who became a Special Olympian thanks to her mentor.