Why did Eunice Shriver create the Special Olympics?
It all began in the 1950s and early 1960s, when Eunice Kennedy Shriver saw how unjustly and unfairly people with intellectual disabilities were treated. She also saw that many children with intellectual disabilities didn’t even have a place to play. She decided to take action.
Who participated in Special Olympics?
Special Olympics athletes are people who are 8 years old or older and who have an intellectual disability. There is no upper age limit, and in fact, nearly one-third of our athletes are age 22 or older.
Who is Eunice Kennedy Shriver and how is she connected to Special Olympics?
Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founder of Special Olympics, was a pioneer in the worldwide struggle for rights and acceptance for people with intellectual disabilities.
What did Eunice Kennedy do?
Eunice Mary Kennedy Shriver DSG (July 10, 1921 – August 11, 2009) was an American philanthropist and a member of the Kennedy family. She was the founder of the Special Olympics, a sports organization for persons with physical and intellectual disabilities.
Who is Maria Shriver’s husband?
Arnold SchwarzeneggerMaria Shriver / Husband (m. 1986–2021)
How many people participate in Special Olympics?
Key people. Special Olympics is the world’s largest sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities and physical disabilities, providing year-round training and competitions to 5 million athletes and Unified Sports partners in 172 countries.
Where can I find media related to the Special Olympics?
Warner Books, 1996. ISBN 0-446-60384-8 Wikimedia Commons has media related to Special Olympics.
What is Special Olympics annual report?
Special Olympics produces reports every year to inform interested people about what we do. See below for links to the reports. The Annual Report provides partners, athletes and all who have vested interest in the organization with information about its performance during the year, and how it expects to grow in the future.
Who is the CEO of the Special Olympics USA games?
In July 2006, the first Special Olympics USA Games were held at Iowa State University. Teams from all 50 states and the District of Columbia participated. In May 2016, Mary Davis of Dublin, Ireland, was named Chief Executive Officer. She is the first CEO from outside the U.S. in the organization’s history.