1. By:
Matthew Gallineau

3. 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 in the year 1968, shared a belief that
these special individuals 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 in life. Special Education has enhanced the progress and growth of Special
Olympics programs; teachers motivate and give their students confidence to look beyond the
classroom and help them to be a part of organized sports in the global community. Through Special
Olympics these 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 these athletes have the
opportunity to become more physically fit and at the same time possibility meet and establish new
friendships that may last a life time. In the long run, participating in Special Olympics has helped many
individuals with cognitive disabilities maintain healthier, productive and more content lifestyles. The
ultimate goal is to assist each individual 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.
.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 1-9

5. 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 individuals with intellectual disabilities. In 1962
Eunice Shriver Kennedy launched the Special Olympic program by
inviting kids with intellectual 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. The sports events in this 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 with expanding the Special
Olympics movement further by extending the games internationally to the middle
and Far East Asian countries of know as the former Soviet Union. R. 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 Eunice son‘s Timothy Shriver’s hard work and
commitment to their cause. He 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 Shrive’s dream was that
these individuals should not have to change themselves to reach their full
potentials in life; rather society would be the one to change especially their false
perceptions of these individuals. She believed after seeing this individuals display
their God given talents on the Olympic field that society would accept them. Today
this movement has involved over two hundred special Olympic programs, more
than 3 million athletes and with 32 sports events and 800 countries.

8. Special Olympics is to the world’s greatest movement .promoting
human acceptance and universal human value that the world has
ever seen. These 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 contribute to their
Olympic sport team. .
Footnote#1 - Collins, Bill and Foote,J “Special Olympics Benefits to
All.” Internal Journal of Special Education, vol 26, No. 2011, pg 1-9

10. 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 is you can accomplish great
things. Special Olympics 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 them 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 for 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 game in Shanghai as
a team member of the Australia soft ball squad. Brendan Foley’s mother, Lynn Foley
said,” Special Olympics became so important in his life; he works out five times a week.
(3) Being a part of a team brought him back to us.” (3) Special Olympics provides
individuals that have intellectual disabilities a forum for world acceptance of who they
are.
FOOTNOTE # 2 6.Wendel,Tim “Special Olympics Brings New Hope and Prospects to
China” Exceptional Parent, vol. 38, p.g 12-26
FOOTNOTE#3 IBID pg 15

12. Those who volunteer to help out each individual during the Olympic
Games really play an important role on the development and progress of
these athletes make. They wear a variety of hats prior and at the games
such as role models, 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 of the special Olympic games. They not only
prepare them and teach them sport related skills that enhance their
performance but they serve to model and build their character which is
an essential part of their play. 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. This training assists these coaches
to recognize their athletes potential, specifically being able to tap in to
strengths and abilities of these athletes'. 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.

14. Special Olympics mission to develop cultural inclusion for individuals afflicted with
intellectual disabilities. The special Olympic organization started Unified sports
with the intention that for 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 of 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 soft ball
team. The athletes with intellectual disabilities who participated in this game were
less shy, and were much more adjusted to the team. There are thousands of
unified teams in the special Olympic programs. The majority of the 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 to the playing field. Special Olympics aren’t just about the sport
it’s about incredible amount of unity, comradeship, friendship, and bonding.

16. Training for each athlete is just like any other sporting event. They work very hard to win and
compete with others. In order to compete in the Special Olympics athletes must have been
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 level in order to be a contender. In 1991 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 physical 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, given 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 such as 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 when
each person feels they accomplished something and that they were a part of something larger
than they knew back at home. At previous Olympic Games the last athletes crossing the finish
line receive more cheers than the leaders themselves. They should all feel happy that they
were given the opportunity to better themselves and train for the Olympics.
FOOTNOTE#4 IBID pg 2

18. 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 it unfortunately is not enough. The Special Olympic committee and
chairperson are continuous canvasing for sponsors and supporters, in the private
and cooperate level, to subsidize the cost of the Olympic events. Cooperate
sponsorship provides 90% of the special Olympic funding; some of these
cooperation funding comes from such companies as Mattel, Procter Gamble, ESPN,
AT &T. Many Marketers of global business 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 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 Swarzenegger,
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 lot of money and
attention for Special Olympics. Many major dignitaries such as nelson Mandela,
President Clinton and Princess Charlene of Monaco, have been at Special Olympics
and support the special Olympic events, they have served as ambassadors to this
organization which drew national attention to the organizations and led to an
increase in sponsorship.

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

21. 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-Conceptsfor Student Experience’’ Teaching Exceptional Children
Plus. Vol 5. Article 1, Sept. 2008. pg 1-12
3. Collins, Bill and Foote,J “You Know Unice, 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, pgs 1-5
6.Wendel,Tim “Special Olympics Brings New Hope and Prospects to
China” Exceptional Parent, vol. 38, p.g 12-26
7. Vanderslice, Ronna “Special Olympics Benefit to All” Delta Kappa
gamma Bulletin, Winter 2002, vol 68, pg 5-10