1968 Special Olympics World Summer Games

Multi-sport event in Chicago, Illinois, US 1st Special Olympics World Summer Games Chicago, Illinois, United States 3 1,000 3 sports July 20 July 20 Eunice Shriver "James", a seventeen-year-old young manHistory - 1968 Games https://www.specialolympics.org/about/history/1968-games?locale=en Special Olympics August 2018 1 June 2022 Soldier Field 2 1970 Chicago The 1968 Special Olympics World Summer Games were held Chicago, Illinois, United States, on July 20, 1968. Most of the event was held at Soldier Field, while some of the smaller indoor aspects were held in the Conrad Hilton Hotel. The event was co-sponsored by the Chicago Park District and the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation.Local Youths Win Medals https://newspaperarchive.com/dixon-evening-telegraph-jul-23-1968-p-10/ 2 December 2021 Dixon Evening Telegraph 23 July 1986 1,000 athletes from 26 U.S. states, Canada, and France competed in track and swimming. The athlete's oath was introduced at these games by founder Eunice Shriver at the opening ceremony. The oath is, "Let me win. But if I can not win, let me be brave in the attempt." Planning and logistics The inception of the concept for the Special Olympics came from Anne McGlone (now Anne Burke), at the time a physical education teacher working for the Chicago Park District.Ford Liam T. A. Soldier Field: A Stadium and Its City 2009 University of Chicago Press 978-0-226-25709-9 246–247 https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=Lg0jIiGg4HUC&hl 2 June 2020 enKenidrigan & Hodkinson, "Special Olympics Celebrates 30 Years" https://web.archive.org/web/20240723135359/https://www.lib.niu.edu/1998/ip980517.html 2024-07-23 , accessed September 20, 2008. In 1967, while teaching special needs children, she had the idea to host a citywide track meet for such children. She asked Park District Superintendent Erwin "Red" Weiner and Park District Board President William McFetridge for permission to organize it. The Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation had provided earlier funding to special needs programs in the Park District, thus McFetridge believed that Eunice Kennedy Shriver might be willing to provide funding for such an event. In early 1968, McGlone wrote to Shriver proposing the event, and within days received an enthusiastic response from Shriver. The event evolved from a track meet into an Olympics-style event for special needs children. To assist in organizing the event, they received help from Dr. William H. Freeberg of Southern Illinois University, who was an expert in recreation for children with disabilities. They also received the assistance of Parks Board vice president Dan Shannon and McFetridge's assistant Ed Kelly. The event began to take a national, then later even an international, scale as planning advanced. The games were held on a budget of roughly $50,000. Notable athletes volunteered at the games, including Jesse Owens, Rafer Johnson, George Armstrong, and Stan Mikita. Sports Track and field 50-yard dash 300-yard run Long jump High jump Softball throw Swimming 25-yard swim 100-yard swim Water polo Floor hockey History - 1968 Games https://www.specialolympics.org/about/history/1968-games?locale=en Special Olympics August 2018 1 June 2022 Out of the Shadows: Events Leading to the Founding of Special Olympics https://www.specialolympics.org/about/history/out-of-the-shadows-events-leading-to-the-founding-of-special-olympics Special Olympics 31 July 2018 1,000 athletes from 26 U.S. states, Canada, and France competed in track and swimming. Swimming had two events including 25 meter races, and track and field had four events including 50 yard dash, 300 yard run, and standing long jump. There was also a softball throwing event.Center Athletes 2nd in Olympics https://newspaperarchive.com/centralia-evening-sentinel-jul-22-1968-p-4/ 2 December 2021 Centralia Evening Sentinel 22 July 19686 International Games History http://archives.nd.edu/observer/v21/1987-07-30_v21_Special-Olympics.pdf 31 October 2019 The Observer July 1987Athletes Show Abilities https://www.newspapers.com/image/1144377528 Newspapers.com subscription 10 USA Today 2 February 2025 en August 1, 1987 Aftermath The inaugural event was very modest in comparison to later editions. Only several hundred spectators attended, with most being relatives of competitors. However, there event was nevertheless a successful proof of concept for the Special Olympics movement. In December, the charitable nonprofit "Special Olympics, Inc." was established.Special Olympics http://archives.nd.edu/observer/v21/1987-07-30_v21_Special-Olympics.pdf 10 31 October 2019 The Observer July 1987 The Special Olympics continue to be held, and have significantly expanded in scope. References External links http://www.specialolympics.org/history.aspx N/A Special Olympics World Summer Games Chicago, United States Category:Special Olympics World Games Special Olympics World Summer Games Special Olympics World Summer Games Category:Sports competitions in Chicago Special Olympics World Summer Games Special Olympics World Summer Games Special Olympics World Summer Games Special Olympics World Summer Games Category:Events at Soldier Field Category:Olympic Games in the United States Category:1968 in disability sport Category:Chicago Park District