1. SPECIAL OLYMPICS
A CELEBRATION OF THE
HUMAN SPIRIT
By:
Matthew Gallineau

3. Introduction
• Special individuals with cognitive disabilities should be able to train and compete in sports at a national level. Eunice
Kennedy Shriver, the founder of Special Olympics believed these special people should be able to compete like
everyone else in the world at an Olympic level. Eunice‘s motto was that exceptional children are exceptional athletes
and should be afforded equal opportunities to demonstrate their capabilities. She believed these individuals should
be able to attain their highest potential. Special Education has enhanced the progress and growth of Special
Olympics program; special education teachers motivate and give students confidence to look beyond the classroom
and help them to be a part of organized sports in the global community. Through Special Olympics athletes can
clearly visualize their abilities, learn to apply their strengths and our less concerned with their disabilities. They learn
more about themselves and their hidden talents and as a result become well-rounded individuals. Organized sports
have enhanced these individuals’ social and physical attributes; thru training and participation in Olympic events
athletes have the opportunity to become more physically fit and at the same time meet and establish new friendships
that may last a life time. In the long run, participating in Special Olympics has helped many with cognitive disabilities
maintain healthier, productive and more content lifestyles. The ultimate goal is to assist each athlete in adjusting to
circumstances that they have never experienced before and provide them with the opportunity to explore and
develop as a person. Many of them become so proficient in sports that they have attained leadership and mentoring
roles in the Special Olympics community. Special Olympics gives individuals with intellectual disabilities the freedom
to compete in sports without peer pressure. At every Olympic event, all athletes are winners.

4. Eunice Kennedy ShriverAnd Her First Olympics Game

5. Founder & First Olympics 1968
• Throughout history we can point out people that have changed the way we think
and live. Eunice Kennedy Shriver, eldest sister of President John f. Kennedy, was
a change maker for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Eunice’s sister
Rosemary Kennedy was stricken with mental retardation as a child. Eunice’s
father Joseph Kennedy had founded the national foundation for mental
retardation in 1948; Eunice wished to pursue her father’s mission to change
society’s perceptions and the treatment given to exceptional people with
intellectual disabilities. In 1962 Eunice Shriver Kennedy launched the Special
Olympic program by inviting kids with these particular disabilities to explore a
variety of sports and physical activities in her own back yard in the form of day
camps. The community got wind of her camps and from 1962 to 1968 more than
three hundred camps were established over the country. Eunice Kennedy Shriver
and her husband R. Sargent Shriver were motivated to provide more services to
this population; they pushed the government thru the Kennedy Foundation to
obtain funding for Special Olympics programs and for the U.S and international
Olympic committees to endorse the recognition of the Special Olympics. The
Shriver’s started the first Special Olympics in July of 1968 at Sadler field in
Chicago, Illinois. During this event there were roughly one thousand participants
from Canada and the United States.

6. Founder & First Olympics Continued
• The sports events in the very first Olympics were hockey, track and aquatics.
Eunice and R. Sargent Shriver started the first winter Special Olympic games in
1977 which took place in Steamboat Springs, Colorado where athletes engaged
in the sports of skiing and skating. The Shriver’s continued the Special Olympics
movement further by extending the games internationally to the middle and Far
East Asian countries and continued to the Soviet Union. Sargent Shriver served
as the president of the Special Olympic foundation and the chairmen of the
Special Olympics international committee. Eunice Shriver passed away in August
of 2009 and R. Sargent Shriver died in January of 2011. Their legacy continued
through their son‘s Timothy Shriver’s hard work and commitment to their cause.
Timothy eventually became the Special Olympics chairmen. Eunice and R.
Sargent Shriver were responsible for changing the lives of many individuals
afflicted with intellectual disabilities. Eunice Kennedy Shriver’s dream was that
these individuals should not have to change themselves to reach their full
potential in life; rather society would be the one to change especially their false
perceptions of these exceptional people. She believed after seeing these athletes
display their God given talents on the Olympic field that society would then accept
them. Today this movement has involved over two hundred special Olympic
programs, more than 3 million athletes participating in over 32 sports events in
over 800 countries. This is without question a success story.

7. PuttingABall In Someone's Hands Can Change Perceptions

8. Changing Societies Perceptions
• Special Olympics is the world’s greatest movement promoting human acceptance and
universal human value that the world has ever seen. These individuals are the worlds
deeply wounded victims of prejudice. Special Olympic athletes represent a challenge to
intolerance, prejudice, fear and human misunderstanding. Eunice Shriver once said,
“putting a ball in a slow learners hands, and seeing them score, that’s when the
perception of someone can change.” (1) What separates Special Olympics from every
other competition is the love of being a part of something. They become confident and
empowered by their accomplishments. They no longer see themselves as being
someone who is alone and compromised by their disabilities because they are a valued
contributor to their Olympic sport team.
Footnote #1 Collins, Bill and Foote, “You know Eunice, The World Will Never Be The
Same After This” “Internal Journal of Special Education, vol. 26, No. 2011, pg. 2

9. Happiness & Sipho Mjoka,ASpecial Olympics Gold Medal Champion

10. Unbounded Joy and a Reason to Hope
• The way Special Olympics can be defined is unbounded joy. You can see this in the faces of the
athletes, their families and friends during the Olympic events ; exuberating happiness in their
celebrations. The Special Olympics exemplifies a feeling of positive affirmation by reinforcing no
matter what your disability you can accomplish great things. These Olympic games are a wonderful
opportunity to help transform people’s lives. In the 2008 Olympics in East Asia, special Olympic
athlete Sipho Mjoka from South Africa expressed, “being here has been like a dream for me.
Coming here being in these games is more then I imagined. It got me out of my world”.(2) These
events provide athletes with courage to learn on their own and to apply this knowledge to their lives.
It also gives them the opportunity to meet and interact with new friends. Special Olympics has given
many individuals with intellectual disabilities a reason to hope, Brendan Foley, who has Downs
Syndrome locked himself away from his family after his grandfather died. Brendan’s life changed
when a coach saw his talent to catch a ball. Shortly after this recognition, Brendan was participating
in the 2007 Special Olympic games in Shanghai as a team member of the Australia softball squad.
Brendan Foley’s mother, Lynn Foley said,” Special Olympics became so important in his life; he
works out five times a week. Being a part of a team brought him back to us.” (3) Special Olympics
provides individuals that have intellectual disabilities a world forum for acceptance of who they are.
• FOOTNOTE # 2 Wendel,Tim “Special Olympics Brings New Hope and Prospects to China”
Exceptional Parent, vol. 38, p. 16
• FOOTNOTE#3 IBID pg. 18

11. Working With Special OlympicAthletes Changes Coaches Lives

12. Coaches/Teachers: the X-Factors
• Those who volunteer to help out each individual during the Olympic
Games play an important role on the development and progress of these
athletes make. They wear a variety of hats prior to and at the games
such as chaperone, care giver, partner, coach, teacher and friend. They
form a unity with the challenged individual through training. They are the
ones that assist these athletes with the development of their vision at the
special Olympic games. They not only prepare them and teach them
particular sport skills that enhance their performance but they serve to
mold and build their character which is an essential part of their
participation. During the preparation and training these volunteers bring
enthusiasm, motivation, commitment and positive thinking which help
these athletes to be there best. They are required to attend “Coach
Excellence” programs where they partner with sports organizations to
attain the necessary coaching skills to mentor these athletes through the
Olympic Games. Training helps each coach to recognize their athletes
potential especially with the ability to tap in to individual strengths and
abilities. They teach their athletes to learn routines. Coaches instill
strategies to enhance learning and the importance of following direction.
Many of these coaches feel their lives have been transformed forever
after having the privileged of mentoring these special individuals.

13. The Spirits ofTogethernessAnd The Thrill Of Competition

14. Friendship & Competition
• Special Olympics mission is to develop cultural inclusion for individuals afflicted with
intellectual disabilities. The Special Olympic organization started Unified sports with the
intention that athletes with and without intellectual disabilities will compete and play on the
same teams. This partnership has shown to have a positive effect on players. It has changed
attitudes and has broken down barriers that have kept these special athletes apart from
others for generations. Many of these partnerships have developed into lifelong friendships.
As a result, the disabled athletes have demonstrated improved physical self-concepts which
have enhanced their belief in themselves as an athlete. The goal of Unified sports is to
formulate a bond amongst these players and to enhance the intellectually disabled athletes
social relations and acceptance with their teammates. In ninety percent of the Unified sports
teams these individuals have reported an improvement in skill level and engagement which
has enhanced their social relationships with their teammates. Unified sports in Special
Olympics has brought out the spirit of the sports and has kindled the flame of commonalties
amongst these players. The first Unified sports game was in 1991, in Massachusetts with an
Olympic softball team. The athletes with intellectual disabilities who participated in these
games were less shy and much more adjusted to the team. There are thousands of Unified
teams in the special Olympic programs. The majority of athletes with disabilities indicate that
they enjoy these games and they look up to their peers without disabilities. People with non-
disabilities learn more from those who have disabilities. A person with intellectual disabilities
has gifts to bring in every conversation and on every playing field. Special Olympics aren’t
just about the sports it’s about the creation of unity, comradriety, friendship, and bonding.

15. Getting In The Best Shape Possible

16. Training
• Training for each Special Olympic athlete is just like training for any other sporting event.
Special Olympic athletes work very hard to win and compete with others. In order to compete
in the Special Olympics athletes must be formally diagnosed with an intellectual disability
prior to the age of eighteen. The special Olympic organization requires each athlete to train
for a period of eight weeks prior to the competition and for three hours each week. In order
for an athlete to compete at the Special Olympics they must qualify at the local and state
levels. In1991, The Healthy Athletes program was formulated to ensure all special Olympic
athletes receive free health screening, health treatment and necessary medical follow-up.
This screening is to enhance the training and competition by ensuring the athletes are
physically fit and healthy enough to compete. Healthy Athletes program implements hands
on training which is accomplished by professional trainers, physical & occupational therapists
and coaches. The athlete is given knowledge of the sport, a performance evaluation and
taught skills to enhance their abilities and comfort level. Special Olympic athletes train for
traditional sports, their training consist of motor skill, weight training and coordination
exercises. Each Olympic athlete is placed in a division of their chosen sport with other
athletes that have similar attributes based on capabilities, age and sex. Eunice Shriver during
the first Olympic game ensured the Olympic oath was conveyed to all the participants,” Let
me win, but if I can not win, let me be brave in the attempt.”(4) I think the most important
thing about the games is each Special Olympic athlete feels that they accomplished
something and that they are a part of something larger than what they have experienced
back at home. At previous Olympic Games the last athletes crossing the finish line received
more cheers than the leaders themselves. All athletes feel happy that they were given the
opportunity to better themselves and train for the Special Olympics.
• FOOTNOTE#4 IBID pg. 2

17. Forming Partnerships In Support OfThe Special Olympics

18. Sponsors & Supports
• Special Olympic events occur every two years and our very expensive to put on.
Many of these events budgets exceed more than ten million dollars. There is
funding for Special Olympics at local, state and federal levels of the government
but unfortunately, it is not enough. The Special Olympic committee and
chairperson are continuously canvasing for sponsors and supporters in the private
and corporate level, to subsidize the cost of the Olympic events. Cooperate
sponsorship provides 90% of the special Olympic funding; some of the
corporation funding comes from such companies as Mattel, Procter Gamble,
ESPN, AT&T. Many Marketers of global businesses support the Special Olympics
to improve awareness of the cause and to enhance growth of community based
Special Olympic programs. There are social groups, whose sponsorship has had
an impact on the quality of the games, this includes the Lions club who
contributes and supports the Special Olympics Healthy Athletes program. Many
celebrities, including movie and professional athletes such as Bono, Arnold
Swartzenegger, Ellen Farrell, Matt Flair, Michael Phelps and Scott Hamilton have
given major contributions or have sponsored fund raiser events. W.W.E is
sponsoring the 2014 Special Olympics in New Jersey. They promise to bring a
substantial amount of money and increased attention for the Special Olympics.
Many major dignitaries such as Nelson Mandela, President Clinton and Princess
Charlene of Monaco, have attended and supported Special Olympics events, and
have served as ambassadors to this organization which has drawn national
attention to this organization and led to an increase in sponsorship.

19. Unification Of Spirits

20. Special Olympics: Changing Lives
• The mission or goal of Special Olympics is to make a difference
of the lives of individuals with intellectual disabilities. The
Special Olympic games transforms these individuals by
empowering them with confidence, improving their health and
fitness and helping them to be more socially adjusted to their
environment. These games allow each to live out their dreams
and gives them life changing experiences which in turn brings
about emotions that they never knew existed. From the comfort
of friendships, the feelings of pushing themselves to the limit
during training or pure excitement and competition to win,
everyone wins. Over the past thirty plus years Special Olympic
athletes have proven that they can and will succeed;
overcoming their obstacles with pure determination and heart.
They are truly an inspiration to everyone.

21. References & Bibliography
1.Borntrager,Randy “A Battle Cry for Inclusion” Exceptional Parent, Feb.
2006,Vol. 36, issue 10, pg. 12-18
2. Briere,Donald ‘’Effects of Unified Sports Basketball Program on
Special Education, Students Self-concept for Students Experience”
Teaching Exceptional Children Plus, September 2008, pg. 24-26
3.Collins, Bill and Foote “You Know Eunice, The World Will Never Be
The Same After This” Internal Journal of Special Education, vol. 26, No.
2011, pg. 1-9
4. MacLean Jr, William E “The Rest Of The Story. Research and Practice
for Persons with Severe Disabilities”, Fall 2008. Vol. 3 pgs. 146-149.
5. Shah, Nirvi “Sports Teams Extended Reach”, Educator Week, July
2012, pg. 1-5
6.Wendel,Tim “Special Olympics Brings New Hope and Prospects to
China” Exceptional Parent, vol. 38, pg. 12-26
7. Vanderslice, Rona “Special Olympics Benefit to All” Delta Kappa
Gamma Bulletin, Winter 2002, vol. 68, pg. 5-10
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