Special Olympics World Games

Illustration: A proud participant in the 1995 Special Olympics.

"Everybody counts, and everybody can do something important and good." Those were President Bill Clinton's words at the opening of the 1995 Special Olympics World Games. The President was reminding the crowd whatthe Special Olympics were all about. The games give athletes with developmental disabilities a chance to show what they can do. And they eagerly take up the challange. Their pledge is "Let me win, but if I can not win, let me be brave in the attempt."

The Special Olympics started in 1963 as a day camp for children with mental retardation. The camp gave rise to an organization in Washington, D.C., that sponsored tournaments across the country and abroad. The first World Games were held in Chicago in 1968. Today more than 1 million athletes- adults as well as children ages 8 and up- take part in Special Olympic programs. The 1995 World Games were held in New Haven, Connicuit, during the first week in July and brought together about 7,200 athletes from 140 countries. Many had physical challanges as well as mental challenges, but they competed in 19 events, from basketball to weight lifting. There may have only been 3 medals from each event, but all the athletes were winners.

DID YOU KNOW....The Special Olympics were started by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, sister of President John F. Kennedy. The program was partly a tribute to their sister, who had mental retardation.

If you would like to learn more about the Special Olympics visit their official website.

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