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."
“Treat a person as he is, and
“Enthusiasm is everything. It he will remain as he is. Treat
must be taut and vibrating him as he could be, and he
like a guitar string.” Pele 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.

Unified Sports brings together

athletes with and without
disabilities to train and compete
“To give yourself the best possible
together. Such competitions are
chance of playing to your potential,
an important part of the World
you must prepare for every
Games, as well as local,
eventuality. That means practice.”
- Seve Ballesteros - Leading Spanish golfer state/provincial and National
between mid 1970s to the mid 1990s Games
¾ 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 China athletes celebrate a goal - 2003 Special
Olympics World Games Olympics World Games

My mother
taught me very
early to believe I “Do you know what my
could achieve any favourite part of the game is?
accomplishment I The opportunity to play”.-
wanted to. The Mike Singletary -
first was to walk American footballer
without braces. -
Wilma Rudolph

Floor hockey
 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 Special Olympics Hong
way to winning the gold Kong's Mei-Yu Lau shows
medal in the 5,000 Meter beautiful form in vaulting
final during the 2003 while competing at the 2003
Special Olympics World David Praiss, (USA), competes in powerlifting Special Olympic World
Games at the 2003 Special Olympics World Games. Games

Francesca Susantti of Italy,
riding Oliver, competes in a
Ivan Lycas, Slovenia, - Working Trail event 2003
2003 Special Olympics Special Olympics World
World Games Games.
Philip Crosbie - Ireland, kayaking
competition - 2003 Special Olympics World
Games,
50 Meter Freestyle heat - 2003 Special
Olympics World Games, Dublin, Ireland.

Scott Crowden
Australia, 2003
Special Olympics
World Games.[
 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.