Special Olympics

SPECIAL OLYMPICS

Eunice Kennedy Shriver - Born in Brookline, Massachusetts, USA, the fifth of nine children of Joseph P. and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy. Inspired by Rosemary Kennedy, her intellectually disabled sister, Eunice Kennedy Shriver founded the Special Olympics in 1962. She has been a leader in the worldwide struggle to improve and enhance the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities for more than three decades Never let your head hang down. Never give up and sit down and grieve. Find another way. And don't pray when it rains if you don't pray when the sun shines. -Leroy "Satchel" Paige

Rosemary Kennedy diagnosed mentally retarded underwent lobotomy (brain surgery) to calm her mood swings that the family found difficult to handle at home and her father felt would "damage the family's

reputation." It was a disaster and left her permanently disabled, paralyzed on one side, incontinent and unable to speak coherently. She never returned home. She died at the age of 86 on 7 Jan 2005.

“Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt." “Enthusiasm is everything. It must be taut and vibrating like a guitar string.” Pele

“Treat a person as he is, and he will remain as he is. Treat him as he could be, and he will become what he should be”. -Jimmy Johnson

Special Olympics an international organization recognised by the International Olympic Committee to help people with intellectual disabilities develop self-confidence and social skills through sports training and competition. It provides meaningful opportunities for persons with intellectual disabilities, including age-appropriate activities, activities for lower ability athletes, etc.

“To give yourself the best possible chance of playing to your potential, you must prepare for every eventuality. That means practice.” - Seve Ballesteros - Leading Spanish golfer between mid 1970s to the mid 1990s

Unified Sports brings together athletes with and without disabilities to train and compete together. Such competitions are an important part of the World Games, as well as local, state/provincial and National Games

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Special Olympics, Inc. was established as a not-for-profit organisation in December 1968. ¾ It is recognized around the world as the first systematic effort to provide sports training and athletic competition for individuals with intellectual disabilities based on the Olympic tradition and spirit. ¾ Today, more than 1.3 million children and adults with intellectual disabilities participate in Special Olympics. The movement is active in more than 150 countries around the world.

Ireland v/s USA at the 2003 Special Olympics World Games My mother taught me very early to believe I could achieve any accomplishment I wanted to. The first was to walk without braces. Wilma Rudolph

Floor hockey

China athletes celebrate a goal - 2003 Special Olympics World Games

“Do you know what my favourite part of the game is? The opportunity to play”.Mike Singletary American footballer

The mat is carefully watched by referees during the judo competition at the 2005 Special Olympics Great Britain Summer Games.

Josephat Kipkoviv, Special Olympics Kenya, on his way to winning the gold medal in the 5,000 Meter final during the 2003 Special Olympics World Games

David Praiss, (USA), competes in powerlifting at the 2003 Special Olympics World Games.

Special Olympics Hong Kong's Mei-Yu Lau shows beautiful form in vaulting while competing at the 2003 Special Olympic World Games

Philip Crosbie - Ireland, kayaking competition - 2003 Special Olympics World Games,

Ivan Lycas, Slovenia, 2003 Special Olympics World Games Scott Crowden Australia, 2003 Special Olympics World Games.[

Francesca Susantti of Italy, riding Oliver, competes in a Working Trail event 2003 Special Olympics World Games.

50 Meter Freestyle heat - 2003 Special Olympics World Games, Dublin, Ireland.

Special Olympics World Games is conducted once every four years At the National and regional level it facilitates year round sports training and and athletic competition.

The 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games will be held in Shanghai, People's Republic of China, from 2-11 October 2007.

In addition to some 7,000 athletes, Special Olympics expects the 2007 World Summer Games to draw 40,000 volunteers, 3,500 event officials and thousands of families, volunteers, spectators and journalists from every continent.

Events include Aquatics, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Bocce, Bowling, Cricket, Cycling, Dragon Boat Racing, Equestrian, Football (Soccer), Golf, Gymnastics, Judo, Kayaking, Powerlifting, Roller Skating, Sailing, Softball, Table Tennis, Team Handball, Tennis and Volleyball, as well as Motor Activities Training Program.

The Kolkata Athletics Meet of Special Olympics was held at the Salt Lake Stadium in February, 2005.

“The principle is competing against yourself. It's about self improvement, about being better than you were the day before.” - Steve Young - American footballer named the Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl XXIX, and inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2005.