1968 Special Olympics World Summer Games

The 1968 Special Olympics World Summer Games were held in Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois, United States, on July 20, 1968. Some of the smaller indoor events were held in the Conrad Hilton Hotel on Michigan Avenue. The event was co-sponsored by the Chicago Park District and the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation.<ref name="localyouths">Template:Cite news</ref>

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.<ref name="stadiumanditscity">Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Kenidrigan & Hodkinson, "Special Olympics Celebrates 30 Years", accessed September 20, 2008.</ref> In 1967, while teaching special needs children, she had the idea to host a citywide track meet for such children.<ref name="stadiumanditscity"/> She asked Park District Superintendent Erwin "Red" Weiner and Park District Board President William McFetridge for permission to organize it.<ref name="stadiumanditscity"/> 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.<ref name="stadiumanditscity"/> In early 1968, McGlone wrote to Shriver proposing the event, and within days received an enthusiastic response from Shriver.<ref name="stadiumanditscity"/> The event evolved from a track meet into an Olympics-style event for special needs children.<ref name="stadiumanditscity"/>

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.<ref name="stadiumanditscity"/> They also received the assistance of Parks Board vice president Dan Shannon and McFetridge's assistant Ed Kelly.<ref name="stadiumanditscity"/> The event began to take a national, then later even an international, scale as planning advanced.<ref name="stadiumanditscity"/> The games were held on a budget of roughly $50,000.<ref name="athletesshow"/>

Notable athletes volunteered at the games, including Jesse Owens, Rafer Johnson, George Armstrong, and Stan Mikita.<ref name="stadiumanditscity" />

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

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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.<ref name="localyouths" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Observer1" /><ref name="athletesshow">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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.<ref name="athletesshow"/> In December, the charitable nonprofit "Special Olympics, Inc." was established.<ref name="Observer1">Template:Cite news</ref> The Special Olympics continue to be held, and have significantly expanded in scope.

External links

• http://www.specialolympics.org/history.aspx