According to information released by the Special Olympics organizing committee, the Special Olympics (Special Olympics) is the number one event of the Special Olympics movement and is a mass games held on the Olympic model for children and adults with a variety of learning disabilities from around the world. While the Paralympics provide athletic opportunities for physically challenged competitors, the Special Olympics provide opportunities for those with intellectual disabilities to participate. The Special Olympics Summer Games are held the year before the Olympic Games, while the Paralympic Games are held immediately following the Olympic Games. Both Special Olympics and Paralympics are independent organizations recognized by the International Olympic Committee.
Special Olympics doesn't have a long history.
In the early 1960s, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, an Irish-American, organized a summer camping trip for people with intellectual disabilities in the U.S. state of Maryland. She was surprised to find that people with intellectual disabilities were far more capable of sports and physical activities than many experts had imagined, which gave rise to the idea of organizing the Games. Between 1968, when she founded the first Special Olympics in Chicago, and 2003, Special Olympics organizations have been established in more than 160 countries around the world, and millions of people with intellectual disabilities from all over the world have participated in the event.
If the Olympic pursuit of "faster, higher, stronger" challenges the limits of humanity, then Special Olympics seeks to challenge the participant to his or her own personal limits. The mission of Special Olympics is to create conditions and opportunities for children and adults with learning disabilities over the age of 8 to participate in daily Olympic sports training and competitions. Each program is designed with different activities for people with intellectual disabilities at different levels of ability, and the competitions are grouped according to ability rather than age, so as to motivate people with intellectual disabilities to realize their potential, perform bravely, and share their joys, skills, and friendships with other competitors and their families in the process. The competition is designed to motivate people with intellectual disabilities to fulfill their potentials and perform courageously.
Special Olympics' motto is "Be brave, try to win.
The spirit of Special Olympics is one of skill, courage, sharing and joy that transcends national, political, gender, age, racial and religious boundaries.
The goal of Special Olympics is: to give people with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to become useful, recognized and respected citizens of society.
In general, there are 26 Special Olympics sports***. Summer Special Olympics sports include aquatics (swimming and diving), track and field, badminton, basketball, outdoor boccia, bowling, cycling, equestrian, soccer, golf, gymnastics, weightlifting, roller skating, sailing, softball, table tennis, tennis, handball and volleyball. For the Winter Special Olympics, there is alpine skiing, floor field hockey, cross-country skiing, figure skating and speed skating.
Special Olympics (short for Special Olympics) is an international sports training and competition based on the Olympic spirit and dedicated to people with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics sports programs are very diverse, ranging from the most basic functional activities to the most advanced competitions for Special Olympics athletes of all ages and ability levels.
Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy. Kennedy. As Executive Vice President of the Kennedy Foundation and Founder of the Special Olympics Movement, Ms. Shriver has worked for three decades to strengthen and improve the quality of life for people with intellectual disabilities and their participation in society. The fifth of the Kennedys' nine children, she was born in Brookline, Massachusetts, and graduated from Stanford University in California with a degree in social sciences. After graduation, she worked in various capacities in various fields of social work for the U.S. government. in 1957, she took over the Kennedy Foundation and pursued civil rights for the intellectually disabled. Under her leadership, the foundation made outstanding achievements in medical research and public education, and her work was recognized internationally as a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America's highest honor.
June 1962
Mrs. Eunice Kennedy Shriver began a summer camping program for a number of mentally retarded children and adults in her home state of Maryland to develop their potential through a variety of sports activities and physical exercise.
July 20, 1968
The Kennedy Foundation and the Chicago community*** planned and held the first International Special Olympics at Soldier Field in Chicago, where 1,000 athletes from 26 U.S. states and Canada competed in track and field, swimming, and field hockey.
December 1968
Special Olympics International is founded as a nonprofit charitable organization in the U.S. District of Columbia. The American Association for the Mentally Handicapped, the Council for Exceptional Children, and the Mental Retardation Association of America strongly support this first-of-its-kind sports training and competition for children and adults with mental retardation around the world in the tradition and spirit of the Olympics.
August 13-15, 1970
The Second International Summer Special Olympics were held in Chicago, Illinois, United States of America, with 2,000 athletes from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, France, and Puerto Rico competing.
August 13-18, 1972
The Third International Summer Special Olympics were held at the University of California, Los Angeles, with 2,500 athletes competing.
August 7-11, 1975
The Fourth International Summer Special Olympics were held at Central Michigan University in Michigan, U.S.A., with 3,200 athletes from 10 countries competing. CBS broadcast the sporting event nationally on its "Spectacular Sports" program.
February 5-11, 1977
The first international Winter Special Olympics were held in Colorado, USA, with more than 500 athletes competing in skiing and figure skating events. The Games were televised on the CBS, ABC and NBC television networks.
August 8-13, 1979
The Fifth International Summer Special Olympics were held at the State University of New York, U.S.A., with more than 3,500 athletes from all U.S. states and more than 20 countries competing.
1980-1981
Special Olympics begins a train-the-trainers-and-certify-the-trainers program and publishes the first issue of a sportsmanship guide.
March 8-13, 1981
The Second International Special Olympics Winter Games were held in Vermont, U.S.A., with more than 600 athletes competing in alpine skiing, cross-country skiing and ice skating.
July 12-18, 1983
The Sixth International Summer Special Olympics were held at Louisiana State University, where more than 60,000 people, including about 4,000 athletes, participated in the opening ceremonies.
March 24-29, 1985
Fourteen countries organized groups to select athletes to compete in skiing and figure skating at the Third International Winter Special Olympics in Utah, USA.
September 1986
The International Year of Special Olympics, initiated at United Nations Headquarters in New York, culminates in the 1987 Special Olympics International Summer Games, when the slogan was Special Olympics - Connecting the World.
July 1987
More than 30,000 law enforcement officers from every state in the U.S. and seven countries participate in the 26,000-mile Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run to promote Special Olympics.The 1987 Torch Run*** raises more than $2 million in sponsorships.
July 31-August 8, 1987
Two Indiana universities*** co-sponsored the Seventh International Summer Special Olympics, with more than 4,700 athletes from 70 countries participating in the year's largest amateur sports event. More than 150 million people around the world learned about the Special Olympics Games through publicity in Sports Report and Time.
October 1987
Jimmy and Vicky of A&M Records, along with Bob Schlafly, launched the "Special Olympics" program. Jimmy and Vicky of A&M Records, along with Bob Shriver, launch the "One Special Christmas Campaign," an album of Christmas-time music by top pop artists in support of Special Olympics programs around the world.
February 1988
The International Olympic Committee signs a historic agreement formally recognizing and admitting Special Olympics.
July 1988
The implementation of the Special Olympics Inclusion Movement program is announced at the Special Olympics Annual Meeting in Reno, Nevada.
April 1-8, 1989
The Fourth International Special Olympics Winter Games are held in Reno, Nevada, and Lake Tahoe, California, with more than 1,000 athletes from 18 countries competing.
February 11, 1990
The ABC television program "Life Goes On" offered viewers a one-hour primetime drama starring an intellectually disabled man who was committed to the Special Olympics.
February 14, 1990
Sargent Schlafly announces a historic event. Shriver announced a historic decision to absorb the Soviet Union into the Special Olympics movement. Special Olympics was the first charitable organization to implement a Special Olympics program on a national scale in the region.
July 20-27, 1990
The Third European Summer Special Olympics are held in Scotland, with 2,400 athletes representing 30 European countries competing in eight official and five performance events.
July 19-27, 1991
The 8th International Summer Special Olympics were held in Minnesota, USA, with 6,000 athletes from more than 100 countries taking part in the world's largest sporting event of the year. (In 1991, the World Games were officially renamed the International Special Olympics Summer Games and the Special Olympics Winter Games)
September 30, 1992
Special Olympics International celebrated the 25th anniversary of Special Olympics for the first time at United Nations Headquarters in New York with the theme, "Together, We Win" and launched a 25th anniversary retrospective at United Nations Headquarters. A 25th Anniversary retrospective is launched at UN Headquarters, followed by a national traveling exhibit.
March 20-27, 1993
The Fifth International Special Olympics Winter Games are held in Salzburg and Sklemming, Austria, with 1,600 athletes from 50 countries competing for awards in five winter sports. It was the first time that the International Special Winter Olympics were held outside of North America.
July 1-9, 1995
More than 7,000 athletes from 143 countries competed in 21 sports at the 9th International Summer Special Olympics in New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
February 1-8, 1997
About 2,000 athletes from 73 countries gathered in Toronto, Canada, to compete in five sports at the Sixth International Winter Special Olympics. The Games were also the largest combined sporting event of 1997.
July 20, 1998
Special Olympics International celebrates its 30th anniversary with "30 Years of Heroes" and introduces 12 Special Olympics Ambassadors from around the world.
December 17, 1998
In celebration of the 30th anniversary of Special Olympics, President Clinton and First Lady Hillary perform a Christmas concert at the White House called "A Special Christmas from Washington. It was the first time a U.S. president held a White House party about Special Olympics, and the first time that all the artists involved in the successful "One Special Christmas Event" series of recordings were brought together at the White House for a performance.
June 26-July 4, 1999
The Tenth International Summer Special Olympics are held in North Carolina, USA, with more than 7,000 athletes from 150 countries competing in 19 sports.
January 16, 2000
The story of one Special Olympics athlete's life - "Loretta's Story" - aired on ABC's #1 primetime television program, "The Wonderful World of Disney". ".
May 18-22, 2000
Special Olympics China hosts the "China Special Olympics Walk of the Century," which has an impact throughout China. Internationally renowned movie star and charity ambassador Arnold Schwarzenegger accompanied Special Olympics. Arnold Schwarzenegger accompanied Special Olympics athletes to light the Flame of Hope on the Great Wall and participated in banquets celebrating the Special Olympics movement in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen. Special Olympics China has pledged to increase the number of Special Olympics athletes from 50,000 to 500,000 by 2005.
May 20-23, 2000
Sixty athletes from around the world attend the first-ever Global Athletes' Congress in the Netherlands*** to discuss the future of the Special Olympics movement. Despite differences in language, culture, age and gender, these athletes did their best to discuss issues in hopes of further improving the status quo and voting on new resolutions.
May 27-June 4, 2000
More than 2,000 athletes from 53 Special Olympics regions in Europe and Eurasia converge on the Netherlands for the 2000 Special Olympics European Games.
December 14, 2000
To celebrate the spirit of Special Olympics, U.S. President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary hold a Christmas concert at the White House called "A Special Christmas from Washington. It was the second time the President of the United States had held a White House party about Special Olympics, and the second time that all of the artists involved in the successful "One Special Christmas Campaign" series had come together to perform at the White House.
March 4-11, 2001
More than 1,800 athletes from some 70 countries participate in the 2001 Special Olympics International Winter Games in Alaska, USA, which includes seven Special Olympics winter sports. The Games were the largest athletic event in Alaska's history.
March 5, 2001
The U.S. Senate convenes a hearing chaired by Senator Emeritus Ted? Steven to conduct a hearing to promote wellness for people with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics presented a report on the health status and needs of people with intellectual disabilities, pledging to take action to improve the quality and longevity of life for people with intellectual disabilities. A number of prominent speakers in the field of intellectual disabilities and concerned health advocates attended the hearing.
March 5-10, 2001
The first-ever Global Youth Summit was held during the 2001 International Winter Special Olympics. ***Thirty-four students with intellectual disabilities from around the globe joined their non-intellectual partners during the Games to report on and discuss ways to overcome discrimination and prejudice against children with intellectual disabilities who have faces.
July 9-14, 2001
Special Olympics Africa hopes to start a campaign by South Africa in 2001 - and by the end of 2005 bring the number of Special Olympics athletes to 100,000 across Africa. Former South African President Nelson Mandela and current President Nelson Mandela, current President Thabo Mbeki and Archbishop Desmond Tutu joined Special Olympics Global Ambassador Arnold Schwarzenegger and Special Olympics South Africa. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Special Olympics South Africa's global ambassador, and Special Olympics South Africa's athletes participated in the week-long event, lighting the "Flame of Hope" on Robben Island***.
September 2001
Special Olympics Now, the world's newest educational outreach program, is launched. This school-based package, geared toward regular school students, includes information about the Special Olympics movement, its mission and its athletes. Through these lesson plans, video CDs and service education activities, students learn to understand and accept people with intellectual disabilities.
November 16, 2001
The National Federation of State Colleges of Sport Committee honored Eunice Kennedy with the award. Kennedy K. Schlafly. Ms. Schriver the 2002 Hildo Roosevelt Award. Roosevelt Award - the highest award given to an individual by the National Federation of Colleges of Sport - and on January 13, 2002, Ms. Shriver became the 35th recipient of the award at the National Federation of Colleges of Sport Gala in Indianapolis, Indiana. The award is presented annually to an outstanding citizen. He or she must have been a collegiate student-athlete and symbolize the spirit and purpose of collegiate athletics by demonstrating an ongoing interest and passion for fitness and sports. The award recognizes former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt's commitment to the National Alliance of Collegiate Athletics. The award is named in honor of former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt for his contributions to the creation of the National Federation of Colleges of Physical Education and Sport.
December 6, 2001
David Satcher of the Surgeon General's Office presents the award to Eunice Kennedy, founder of Special Olympics. Kennedy? Ms. Shriver the General Surgical Council's highest award. The General Surgical Council's highest award recognizes Ms. Shriver's leadership in the worldwide struggle to enhance and transform the lives of people with intellectual disabilities.
December 13, 2001
President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush are honored to receive this award. Bush and First Lady Laura? President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush celebrate the "Spirit of Special Olympics" at a White House banquet. The evening's musical entertainment was provided by the famous blues band B.B. King. The event marked the third time a U.S. president has hosted a White House dinner in honor of the Special Olympics.
February 2002
David Satcher of the U.S. Surgeon General, released a health report, "Closing the Gap: A National Blueprint for Improving the Health of People with Intellectual Disabilities." The report lists findings from the first-ever General Surgical Council Conference on Health Disparities and People with Intellectual Disabilities, held December 5-6, 2001, at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. The SCOTUS hearing on the topic of the 2001 Special Olympics World Winter Games was a catalyst for this conference and subsequent reports.
July 18-20, 2002
Nelson? Mandela, the Nelson? Mandela Foundation joined Special Olympics in celebrating the former South African President's 84th birthday in Polokwane, South Africa. ***The celebration was attended by more than 500 people with intellectual disabilities and their integration partners who have participated in Special Olympics Inclusion and Special Olympics Athlete Health Screening programs.
September 2002
China's Third National Special Olympics Games are held in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province. The 1,300 athletes who participated in the Games came from 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions in China. Special Olympics teams from Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Korea and Malaysia also participated. In addition, more than 1,500 volunteers and hundreds of government officials, judges and journalists participated in the Games. A crowd of 5,000 spectators gathered to witness the torch-lighting ceremony at the opening ceremony on the ancient city wall of Xi'an.
September 7-October 26, 2002
The "Flame of Hope" lighting ceremony was held in New Delhi, India, in honor of Gandhi's Raj Ghat, and marked the longest torch run in the 35-year history of Special Olympics. More than 25,000 Special Olympics athletes, family members, coaches, volunteers, law enforcement and government officials, as well as Olympic athletes, carried the "Flame of Hope" from the Raj Ghat in New Delhi through 27 cities in India, covering a distance of ****23,000 kilometers (14,292 meters).
June 20, 2003
The results of a multinational study of attitudes toward people with intellectual disabilities were presented in Belfast, Northern Ireland, as part of the 2003 Scientific Symposium in connection with the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games. Authorized by Special Olympics International, the most extensive and insightful research on this topic was conducted over a two-year period by Dr. Gary Siperstein of the University of Massachusetts, Boston. This report describes how people around the world view the roles and abilities of people with intellectual disabilities in the workplace, in school, and in everyday life in society.
June 21-29, 2003
The 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games were held in Dublin, Ireland - the first time the Special Olympics World Games were held outside the United States. The world's largest sporting event of 2003 featured 7,000 athletes from 150 countries competing in 21 sports.
June 22, 2003
Sargent Schlafly is the first Special Olympics athlete to be honored by Special Olympics. Shriver leaves as Special Olympics president. Timothy Schriver becomes the new Special Olympics president. Shriver becomes the new Special Olympics president and CEO.
February 26, 2004
Beijing Burson-Marsteller's strategic campaign for the Special Olympics movement in China, titled "Shanghai Wins 2007 Special Olympics Games: Breaking Cultural Boundaries, Making Dreams Come True." Nominated for the 2003 United Nations Award for Excellence in Public **** Relations.
March 2004
Special Olympics Founder Eunice Kennedy, the founder of Special Olympics, is honored with the honor of hosting the 2007 Special Olympics Games in Shanghai. Kennedy? Schlafly and Special Olympics President and CEO Timothy B. Schlafly announce that Shanghai has won the honor of hosting the 2007 Special Olympics World Cup. Shriver announce that Shanghai has won the 2007 World Special Olympics Summer Games, and a signing ceremony is held in Shanghai. This is only the second time in Special Olympics history that the World Summer Games will be held outside of the United States. But it is the first time such a competition has been held in Asia. Eunice Kennedy. Kennedy Schlafly. Shriver and Timothy Shriver. Shriver were received by Chinese President Hu Jintao during the event and discussed the development of Special Olympics in China.
June 11, 2004
Special Olympics welcomes international basketball star Yao Ming to the Special Olympics family as a Special Olympics Global Ambassador. Yao Ming is a native of Shanghai, his hometown, where the 2007 World Special Olympics Summer Games will be held.
November 9, 2004
The first health clinic in the history of Special Olympics to provide specialized services to Special Olympics athletes and people with intellectual disabilities in China opened in Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. Eunice? Kennedy K. Schlafly Center for Special Olympics Sports Medicine The Shriver Center for Special Olympics Sports Medicine became a model for the development of the Special Olympics movement, and its founder, Wenzhou Medical College, is also a Special Olympics Regional Collaboration Center.
February 26, 2005
The 2005 Special Olympics World Winter Games were officially held in Nagano, Japan, with the opening ceremony taking place at the world's largest indoor ice skating rink, the M-Wave, which was also the site of the speed skating competitions at the 1998 Winter Olympics. The Games ran from February 26th to March 5th, 2005, and featured nearly 1,900 skaters from all over the world. Nearly 1,900 athletes*** from all regions of the world competed and celebrated the spirit of sport with 650 coaches, more than 10,000 volunteers, family members and friends***.
March 21, 2005
Bruce Pastrnak was named Special Olympics Director. Pastrneck is named the new president and CEO of Special Olympics. Timothy K. Schlafly remains in the role of President. Shriver remains as president.
November 14, 2005
Arnold? Arnold Schwarzenegger returns to China to celebrate the goal of reaching 500,000 athletes by the end of 2005 with Special Olympics China***.
Mission
To create the conditions and opportunities for children and adults with intellectual disabilities to participate in daily Olympic sports training and competition, to realize their potential, to perform courageously, and to share the joy, skills and friendships of participation with other athletes, their families and the community at large.
Special Olympics Mission Statement
Special Olympics believes that people with intellectual disabilities, with the right guidance and encouragement, can learn skills, share joy and benefit from participation in sports training and competition.
Special Olympics believes that sports skills can be stimulated through continuous training over time. By competing against their peers at the same level, they can test their skills, measure their progress and inspire each other to grow.
Special Olympics believes that people with intellectual disabilities can improve their resilience and grow mentally, physically and socially through participation in sports training and competition. Special Olympics athletes bring these benefits into their daily lives, work, school and community activities. Family members can become closer, community volunteers can become good friends with the athletes, and everyone can see the value of people with intellectual disabilities so that people with intellectual disabilities have the opportunity to become useful, recognized and respected citizens of society.
Principles
Special Olympics organizes the most enjoyable, rewarding and challenging sports training and competitions for Special Olympics athletes around the world based on the following principles and tenets:
Special Olympics' goal is to give people with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to become useful to society and to be recognized and respected by society as citizens.
As a means of achieving this goal, Special Olympics encourages athletes of higher ability to move from daily Special Olympics athletic training and competition to participation in regular athletic activities and competitions held in their schools and communities, and Special Olympics athletes are empowered to make their own choices to remain with Special Olympics or to continue to participate in Special Olympics.
All Special Olympics events held regionally, nationally and globally reflect the values, levels, traditions, rituals and activities embodied in the modern Olympic Movement. We experience the moral and spiritual virtues of athletes with intellectual disabilities in these Olympic-rich sports, while these sports enhance their self-esteem.
All persons with intellectual disabilities, regardless of level of intellectual disability, who are at least 8 years of age may participate in Special Olympics sports training and competition.
All Special Olympics athletes have access to comprehensive, year-round sports training with well-qualified coaches who provide instruction in accordance with the standard sports rules developed and adopted by Special Olympics. Every athlete who participates in a Special Olympics program receives sports training in that program.
From the most basic functional activities to the most advanced competitions, the Special Olympics program includes a wide variety of Special Olympics games and activities for Special Olympics athletes of all ages and ability levels.
Every athlete, regardless of financial status, can participate in Special Olympics and receive athletic training and compete under the most favorable conditions, which include equipment, administration, training, coaching, ceremonies and games.
At each awards ceremony, in addition to the gold, silver and bronze medals traditionally awarded to the top three finishers, all athletes who finish the competition in fourth through last place are presented with an engraved place ribbon.
Maximizing the involvement of citizens of all ages as volunteers in Special Olympics activities in order to create more opportunities for the public to learn about intellectual disabilities.
While Special Olympics focuses primarily on athletic training and competition for people with intellectual disabilities, it also makes every effort to provide athletes with artistic, social and cultural experiences through events such as dances, art exhibits, concerts, historical artifacts, medical clinics, theatrical performances and similar activities.
The spirit of Special Olympics is one of skill, courage, sharing and the joy that comes from transcending the boundaries of geography, country, politics, gender, age, race and religion.
Special Olympics China Five-Year Plan (2000-2005)
Goal:
The number of people with intellectual disabilities participating in Special Olympics nationwide will expand from 50,000 to 500,000 people.
Establish 8-10 national training centers, 30 provincial training sites and 100 training sites for athletes and coaches.
Build 5,000 community Special Olympics sports centers by 2005, sized to provide sports training for at least 100 children and adults.
Conduct municipal, provincial and even national Special Olympics.
Training:
Seven training seminars for provincial and municipal administrators responsible for managing Special Olympics.
Provide train-the-trainer workshops in each province with the goal of recruiting and training over 4,000 coaches to coach 100,000-120,000 athletes year-round.
In 2000, training centers were established in Beijing, Shanghai, Fuzhou, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Each center offers sports training in gymnastics, track and field, table tennis, basketball, water sports and soccer. Additional training centers will be established in other cities by 2005.
Special Olympics activities take place in the following provinces: Ningxia, Qinghai, Xinjiang, Hainan and Tibet, in mutually supportive cooperation with provinces where the movement is already under way.
Competitions:
Convene the National Special Olympics Games in 2002 and initiate 5-6 national or regional individual games.
Implementation of Special Olympics Games or individual games in each province.
Organize and train a Chinese delegation to participate in the 2003 and 2005 Special Olympics International Games.
Developing new sports such as badminton, bowling, roller skating, weightlifting, volleyball and cycling.
Special Olympics China was founded in 1985 and has more than 400,000 athletes. There are 24 training and competition programs***, including aquatics, track and field, basketball, badminton, cycling, soccer, gymnastics, volleyball, speed skating, figure skating, roller skating, table tennis, bowling and weightlifting.
The first Special Olympics in China was held in Shenzhen in 1987, followed by regional games in Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Tianjin. more than 1,000 athletes representing 16 countries participated in the first Asia-Pacific Special Olympics hosted by the city of Shanghai in November 1996, and since 1987 China has sent delegations to participate in the summer and winter Special Olympics, which are held once every two years. In 2005, China sent 68 athletes to Nagano, Japan to participate in the World Winter Special Olympics.
Special Olympics is largely driven by volunteers, with thousands of individuals from all walks of life volunteering their time to coach, organize events, raise funds and more. Special Olympics China is generously funded by individuals and corporations, the China Disabled Persons' Federation, China's Ministry of Civil Affairs, the China Charity Foundation and Chinese government departments at all levels.
There are approximately 39 million people with intellectual disabilities in China, and Special Olympics strives to reach 500,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities by 2005 in China. To achieve this ambitious goal, Special Olympics China is working diligently to raise funds to meet the need to train 500,000 athletes in five years. Special Olympics China will rely on government and private sector funding and sponsorship to help people with intellectual disabilities realize their full potential, not only as an athlete, but as a valuable member of society.
What is Special Olympics?
Special Olympics is a year-round international sports training and competition event for more than 2.25 million children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
Special Olympics slogan:
Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.)
Our leaders are: Eunice? Ms. Kennedy Schlafly (Founder) Ms. Eunice Kennedy Shriver (Founder and Chairman Emeritus), Dr. Timothy Kennedy Shriver (Chairman), Dr. Timothy Kennedy Shriver (Founder and Chairman). Dr. Timothy Shriver (Chairman), Bruce Pasternack (President and Chief Executive Officer). (President and CEO)
Our Mission:
To create the conditions and opportunities for children and adults with intellectual disabilities to participate in daily Olympic training and competition, to realize their potential, to perform with courage, and to participate in the sharing of joy, exchange of skills, and friendship with other athletes, their families, and with the community at large.
Our goal is: To give people with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to become useful, recognized and respected citizens of society.
Benefits: Through participation in Special Olympics, individuals with intellectual disabilities can enhance their physical abilities, motor skills, self-esteem, self-confidence, friendships and the support of family members. Special Olympics athletes bring these benefits into their daily lives, work, school and community activities. Family members can become closer, community volunteers can become good friends with athletes, and everyone can see the value of people with intellectual disabilities.
The spirit of Special Olympics is: Skill, courage, sharing, and the joy that comes from transcending the boundaries of country, politics, gender, age, race, and religion.
Foundation of Special Olympics: 1968, Eunice? Ms. Kennedy Schriver was born in Illinois, USA. In 1968, Ms. Kennedy Shriver hosted the first international Special Olympics Games at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. Ms. Shriver's idea for the Games came about in the early 1960's when she hosted a summer camping trip for people with intellectual disabilities, seeing that people with intellectual disabilities were capable of more sports and physical activities than many specialists had imagined. Millions of children and adults with intellectual disabilities have participated in the Special Olympics Games since they began in 1968.
Around the world: Special Olympics organizations have been established in more than 160 countries. Special Olympics activities take place around the world.
In the United States: Special Olympics organizations are established in all 50 states, including Washington, D.C., Guam, the Virgin Islands and American Samoa. Nearly 25,000 communities have Special Olympics programs.
Special Olympics school training and competitions are conducted in communities, families and groups in 11 major cities through the implementation of Special Olympics Model Schools, Special Olympics Sports Training Programs in public schools, and in-school and out-of-school athletic competitions for first- and second-grade students with intellectual disabilities.
Eligibility: Athletes participating in the Special Olympics must be at least eight years old and be recognized by relevant agencies and professionals as meeting one of the following criteria: intellectual disability; cognitive delay recognized under the Standardized Scale; or significant learning and life deficits due to cognitive delay that require special instruction.
Inclusive sports: training and competitions in which persons with intellectual disabilities and ordinary able-bodied persons*** are organized in teams according to their age and physical fitness. This activity was established in 1987 with the aim of dissolving persons with intellectual disabilities into the normal population in sports activities at school and in the community.
Special Olympics offers year-round training in: 25 official competition sports. Special Olympics created and tested these sports, each of which is described in detail in the sports guide. More than 140,000 coaches are qualified to train.
Grouping of Athletes: Athletes are grouped by age and ability. Special Olympics gives every athlete an equal chance to win, and every athlete is expected to be selected from regional, national and World Special Olympics programs.
Athletes with severe disabilities: Special Olympics has organized physical trainers, physical therapists, and psychotherapists to create an activity-based training program. the MATP (Mental Activity Training Program) believes that the focus is on training and participation, not on competition. the MATP is part of the Special Olympics organization and provides sports training to all people with intellectual disabilities.
Special Olympics Competition: Same as the Olympics. More than 20,000 summer or winter competitions, round robin tournaments, etc., are held around the world each year. The Special Olympics International Games are held every two years, alternating between summer and winter, with representatives selected by each organization.