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Special Olympics Africa > Courage
‘I urge
everyone to look at individuals with intellectual disabilities in a
different light. If given a chance, these individuals can make a mark
in whatever discipline they are guided through. If guided well, they
will excel in whatever they attempt to do.’ - Nelson
Mandela
The Special Olympics movement got its start on 20 July 1968, when the
First International Special Olympics Games were held at Soldier Field,
Chicago, Illinois, USA. But the concept of Special Olympics was born
much earlier, when founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver started a day
camp for people with intellectual disabilities at her home in 1962.
Today, with sports at the core, Special Olympics now stands as a leader
in the field of intellectual disability, making incredible strides in
the areas of health, education, family support, research and attitude
and policy change in more than 200 Programs in over 180 countries
around the world.
Special Olympics is an
international nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering
individuals with intellectual disabilities to become physically fit,
productive and respected members of society through sports training and
competition. Special Olympics offers children and adults with
intellectual disabilities year-round training and competition in 30 Olympic-type
summer and winter sports.
Today, Special Olympics
is a truly global movement, with more than 700,000 athletes in China,
more than 400,000 in India, almost 550,000 in the United States, more
than 600 in Afghanistan and 6,600 athletes in Rwanda. Special Olympics
World Games were held in
Ireland in 2003, Japan
in 2005 and Shanghai, China hosted the World Summer Games in 2007. Most importantly,
Special Olympics sharpened the focus on its mission as not just "nice,"
but critical, not just as a sports organization for people with
intellectual disabilities, but also as an effective catalyst for social change.
The Mission of
Special Olympics
The mission of Special
Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic
competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults
with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to
develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and
participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their
families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.
The Vision of
Special Olympics
Special Olympics is an
unprecedented global movement which, through quality sports training
and competition, improves the lives of people with intellectual
disabilities and, in turn, the lives of everyone they touch.
Special Olympics empowers
people with intellectual disabilities to realize their full potential
and develop their skills through year-round sports training and
competition.
As a result, Special
Olympics athletes become fulfilled and productive members of their
families and the communities in which they live.
Special Olympics is an
experience that is energizing, healthy, skillful, welcoming and joyful.
The Olympic
Movement
As the largest amateur
sports organization in the world, Special Olympics has established
relationships with many of the leading sports organizations, as well as
other nonprofit organizations. Special Olympics and Paralympics are two
separate organizations recognized by the International Olympic
Committee. The principal
differences between the two lie in the disability of participating
athletes and levels of sports ability. In addition, Special Olympics is
the only organization that the International Olympic Committee has given
permission to use the word "Olympics."
The Athlete Oath
During the Opening
Ceremonies of each competition, an athlete repeats the inspiring words
once used by the gladiators as they entered the arena “Let me
win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”
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