Today in history - First Special Olympics held

by gary_satanovsky on July 20, 2012

  Eunice Kennedy (later Eunice Kennedy-Shriver) grew up in a large family: John F., Robert F., Edward, and a sister, Rosie, who was born with a learning disability. While otherwise a fully-functional human being, Rosie could not do well in school and had few other options. Eunice resented the way her sister and others similarly developmentally disabled were treated, and decided to create an event that caters just to them.

On this day, July 20, in 1968 the first International Special Olympics Summer Games were held at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. Eunice brought together a thousand children and adults with intellectual disabilities from 26 U.S. states and Canada to compete in various sporting events.

The event grew out of Eunice’s sponsored “Camp Shriver,” held in her backyard, that gave disabled children from around the area a chance to participate in all the regular summer camp activities. The camp was an instant success, and grew in popularity over the subsequent years, giving Shriver leverage with the Olympic Committee in obtaining their imprimatur on the sports event.