The 1968 Special Olympics Summer World Games were held in

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, on July 20, 1968. Some of the smaller indoor events were held in the Conrad Hilton Hotel on Michigan Avenue. This event was co-sponsored by the

Chicago Park District The Chicago Park District is one of the oldest and the largest park districts in the United States. As of 2016, there are over 600 parks included in the Chicago Park District as well as 27 beaches, several boat harbors, two botanic conservatories ...

and the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation. 1,000 athletes from 26 U.S. states, and Canada 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. The athlete's oath was introduced at these games by founder

Eunice Shriver Eunice Mary Kennedy Shriver (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 disa ...

at the opening ceremony. The oath is, "Let me win. But if I can not win, let me be brave in the attempt." Notable athletes volunteered at the games, including

Jesse Owens James Cleveland "Jesse" Owens (September 12, 1913March 31, 1980) was an American track and field athlete who won four gold medals at the 1936 Olympic Games. Owens specialized in the sprints and the long jump and was recognized in his lifet ...

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, George Armstrong, and

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Planning

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

. In 1967, while teaching special needs children, she had the idea to host a citywide track meet for such children. She asked Park District Superintendent Erwin "Red" Weiner and Park District Board President William McFetridge for permission to organize it. 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 Eunice Mary Kennedy Shriver (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 disa ...

might be willing to provide funding for such an event. In early 1968, McGlone wrote to Shriver proposing the event, and within days received an enthusiastic response from Shriver. The event evolved from a track meet into an Olympics-style event for special needs children. To assist in organizing the event, they received help from Dr. William H. Freeberg of

Southern Illinois University Southern Illinois University is a system of public universities in the southern region of the U.S. state of Illinois. Its headquarters is in Carbondale, Illinois. Board of trustees The university is governed by the nine member SIU Board of Tr ...

(an expert in recreation for children with disabilities). They also received the assistance of Parks Board vice president Dan Shannon and McFetridge's assistant

Ed Kelly Edmond Kelly, also known as "Ed" or "Eddie" and nicknamed the Silver Fox (born October 24, 1948 in Dublin, Ireland), is an Irish-American former soccer player. He played in the American Soccer League and one season in the North American Socc ...

. The event began to take a national, then later even an international, scale as planning advanced.

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

References

External links

* http://www.specialolympics.org/history.aspx {{S-end Special Olympics Special Olympics World Summer Games Special Olympics World Summer Games Sports competitions in Chicago History of Chicago Special Olympics World Summer Games Special Olympics World Summer Games Special Olympics World Summer Games Special Olympics World Summer Games Special Olympics World Summer Games Special Olympics World Summer Games Soldier Field