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Special Olympics History Special Olympics is an international program of year-round sports training and athletic competition for persons with intellectual disability. Special Olympics began in 1968 when Eunice Kennedy Shriver organized the First International Summer Games at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois, USA. The concept was born in the early 1960s when Shriver started a day camp for people with intellectual disability. She saw that individuals with intellectual disability were far more capable in sports and physical activities than experts thought. In December 1968, Special Olympics was established as a nonprofit charitable organization under the laws of the District of Columbia, USA. The National Association for Retarded Citizens, the Council for Exceptional Children and the American Association on Mental Deficiency pledged their support for this first systemic effort to provide sports training and athletic competition for individuals with intellectual disability based on the Olympic tradition and spirit. Since 1968, millions of children and adults with intellectual disability have participated in Special Olympics around the world. Click here for more on the history of Special Olympics. Today, Special Olympics involves More than 2.5 million athletes More than 200 Special Olympics Programs Athletes in more than 180 countries 30 Olympic-type sports Seven Regional offices: Brussels, Belgium; Cairo, Egypt; New Doornfontein, South Africa; New Delhi, India; Beijing, China; Ciudad de Panama, Panama; Washington, D.C., USA More than 750,000 volunteers around the world 300,000 coaches around the world Outreach to 190 million individuals with intellectual disabilities around the world Nearly 30,000 competitions around the world each year Mission The Special Olympics mission is to provide year-round sport training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disability by giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community. Philosophy Special Olympics was founded on the belief that people with intellectual disability can, with proper instruction and encouragement, learn, enjoy and benefit from participation in individual and team sports. Believes that consistent training is essential to the development of sport skills, and that competition among those of equal abilities is the most appropriate means of testing these skills, measuring progress and providing incentives for personal growth. Through sport training and competition, people with intellectual disability benefit mentally, socially and spiritually. Families are strengthened. The community-at-large, both through participation and observation, is united in understanding people with intellectual disability in an environment of equality, respect and acceptance.   Principles The goal of Special Olympics is to help bring all persons with intellectual disability into the larger society under conditions whereby they are accepted, respected and given a chance to become productive citizens. As a means of achieving this goal, Special Olympics encourages its more capable athletes to move from Special Olympics training and competition into school and community programs where they can compete in regular sports activities. The decision to leave or continue involvement in Special Olympics is the athlete's choice. All Special Olympics activities — at the local state, national, and international levels — reflect the values, standards, traditions, ceremonies and events embodied in the modern Olympics movement. These Olympic-type activities have been broadened and enriched to celebrate the moral and spiritual qualities of persons with intellectual disability so as to enhance their dignity and self-esteem. Participation in Special Olympics training programs and competitive events is open to all people with intellectual disability who are at least eight years old, regardless of the degree of their disability. Comprehensive, year-round training is available to every Special Olympics athlete, conducted by well-qualified coaches in accordance with the standardized Sports Rules formulated and adopted by Special Olympics, and every athlete who participates in a Special Olympics sport will be trained in that sport. Every Special Olympics Program includes sports events and activities that are appropriate to the age and ability level of each athlete, from motor activities to the most advanced competition. Provides full participation for every athlete regardless of economic circumstances and conducts training and competition under the most favorable conditions possible, including facilities, administration, training, coaching, officiating and events. At every awards ceremony, in addition to the traditional medals for first, second and third places, athletes finishing from fourth to last place are presented a suitable place ribbon with appropriate ceremony. To the greatest extent possible, Special Olympics activities will be run by and involve local volunteers, from school- and college-age individuals to senior citizens, in order to create greater opportunities for public understanding for people with intellectual disability. The "Spirit of Special Olympics" — skill, courage, sharing and joy — incorporates universal values which transcend all boundaries of geography, nationality, political philosophy, gender, age, race or religion.   Athlete's Oath The Special Olympics oath is: "Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt." These words were spoken by Roman gladiators as they entered the arena, facing the greatest battle of their lives. Our athletes recite the oath at the Opening Ceremonies of each competition to remind everyone, themselves included, that they are part of a brave tradition and that the goal is to compete with their whole effort and to exhibit bravery by pushing themselves to ever greater heights. Remind your athletes regularly that they must live by this oath if they are to grow and achieve all their goals. Coach's Oath "In the name of all coaches, we shall follow written and verbal instructions of Special Olympics officials at all times, have our athletes at the appropriate events and activities at the proper time and abide by the rules and policies, in the spirit of sportsmanship." Official's Oath "In the name of all judges and officials, I promise that we shall officiate in these Special Olympics Games with complete impartiality, respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them, in the spirit of sportsmanship."

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