Introduction of special Olympics

According to the information released by the organizing committee of the Special Olympics, Special Olympics is the number one event of the special Olympics, and it is a mass sports meeting organized according to the Olympic model for children and adults with various learning disabilities all over the world. Paralympic Games provide competitive opportunities for physically handicapped athletes, while Special Olympics provide opportunities for mentally handicapped athletes to participate. The Summer Special Olympics will be held one year before the Olympic Games, and the Paralympic Games will be held immediately after the Olympic Games. Special Olympics and Paralympic Games are independent organizations recognized by the International Olympic Committee.

the history of the special Olympics is not long. In the early 196s, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, an Irish-American, held a summer camping activity for the mentally retarded in Maryland, USA. She was surprised to find that the ability of mentally retarded people in sports and physical activities far exceeded the imagination of many experts, which led to the idea of organizing sports meetings. From 1968, when she founded the first Special Olympics in Chicago, USA, to 23, more than 16 countries around the world established Special Olympics organizations, and millions of people with intellectual disabilities from all over the world participated in this grand event.

If the pursuit of "swifter, higher and stronger" in the Olympic Games is to challenge the limits of human beings, then the pursuit of the Special Olympics is for participants to challenge his or her personal limits. The mission of the Special Olympics is to create conditions and opportunities for children and adults over the age of 8 with various learning disabilities to participate in daily Olympic sports training and competitions. Each event is designed for people with mental retardation at different levels of ability, and the competitions are grouped according to their abilities, not according to their age, so as to encourage people with mental retardation to exert their potential and show their courage, and to share happiness, exchange skills and enhance friendship with other athletes and family members during their participation.

The motto of Special Olympics is: Try bravely and strive for victory.

The spirit of Special Olympics is: skills, courage, sharing and happiness beyond the boundaries of country, politics, gender, age, race and religion.

The goal of the Special Olympics is to give people with mental retardation the opportunity to become useful, recognized and respected citizens.

generally speaking, there are 26 special Olympics sports. Summer Special Olympics sports include water sports (swimming and diving), track and field, badminton, basketball, outdoor bocce, bowling, cycling, equestrian, football, golf, gymnastics, weightlifting, roller skating, sailing, softball, table tennis, tennis, handball and volleyball. Winter Special Olympics include alpine skiing, floor hockey, cross-country skiing, figure skating and speed skating.

Special Olympics (short for Special Olympics) is an international sports training and competition based on the Olympic spirit and specially set up for the mentally retarded. Special Olympics sports are very rich, from the most basic functional activities to the most advanced competitions, suitable for Special Olympics athletes of all ages and ability levels.

Ms. Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the founder of the Special Olympics Movement, as the executive vice president of the Kennedy Foundation and the founder of the Special Olympics Movement, has been committed to strengthening and improving the quality of life of people with intellectual disabilities for 3 years, so that they can participate in social life. She is the fifth of the Kennedy couple's nine children. She was born in Brooklyn, Massachusetts, and graduated from Stanford University in California with a degree in social science. After graduation, she worked for the American government in various fields of social work in different capacities. In 1957, he took over the Kennedy Foundation and sought civil rights for the mentally disabled. Under her leadership, the foundation has made outstanding achievements in medical research and public education, and her work has been recognized internationally, and she has won the highest honor in the United States-the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

In June p>1962

Ms. Eunice Kennedy Shriver began to organize summer camping activities for some mentally retarded children and adults in her hometown of Maryland, and developed their potential through various sports activities and physical exercises.

On July 2th, 1968,

The Kennedy Foundation and relevant parties in Chicago jointly planned and held the first special international Olympic Games in Soldier's Square in Chicago. 1, athletes from 26 states in the United States and Canada participated in track and field, swimming and hockey competitions.

in December p>1968

special olympics international was established as a non-profit charitable organization in the United States, D.C. The American Association for the Mentally Handicapped, the Special Children's Committee and the American Association for the Mentally Handicapped all strongly support this pioneering sports training and competition for mentally handicapped children and adults all over the world, adhering to the Olympic tradition and spirit.

August 13th-15th, 197

The Second International Special Summer Olympics was held in Chicago, Illinois, USA. 2, athletes from 5 states, the District of Columbia, France and Puerto Rico participated in the competition.

August 13 -18, 1972

The Third International Special Summer Olympics was held in the University of California, Los Angeles, with 2,5 athletes participating.

August 7 -11, 1975

The 4th Special International Summer Olympics was held in Michigan Central University, Michigan, USA. 3,2 athletes from 1 countries participated in the competition. CBS broadcasted this sports event to the whole country through the program "Spectacular Sports".

February 5 -11, 1977

The first International Winter Special Olympics was held in Colorado, USA. More than 5 athletes competed in skiing and figure skating. Television networks of CBS, ABC and NBC broadcast the Games.

August 8 -13, 1979

The 5th International Special Summer Olympics was held in new york State University, USA. More than 3,5 athletes from various states and more than 2 countries participated in the competition.

From p>198 to 1981

The Special Olympics began to implement the coach training and awarding certificate program, and published the first issue of the sports skill guide.

March 8 -13, 1981

The Second Special International Winter Olympics was held in Vermont, USA. More than 6 athletes participated in alpine skiing, cross-country skiing and skating.

July 12 -18, 1983

The Sixth International Special Summer Olympics was held in Louisiana State University, and more than 6, people, including about 4, athletes, attended the opening ceremony.

From March 24th to 29th, 1985

Fourteen countries sent delegations to participate in the skiing and figure skating competitions of the Third Special International Winter Olympics held in Utah, USA.

September p>1986

The International Special Olympics Year initiated by the United Nations Headquarters in new york reached its peak at the 1987 International Special Summer Olympics, when the slogan was Special Olympics-Connect the World.

In July p>1987

More than 3, law enforcement officers from all states and seven countries participated in the 26,-mile Torch Run for Special Olympics law enforcement officers to promote the Special Olympics. In 1987, the Torch Run * * raised more than 2 million dollars in sponsorship fees.

From July 31st to August 8th, 1987

Two universities in Indiana, USA, co-hosted the 7th Special International Summer Olympics, and more than 4,7 athletes from 7 countries participated in the biggest amateur sports event of that year. More than 15 million people around the world learned about this Special Olympics through the propaganda of Sports Report and Time.

October p>1987

A&; Jimmy and Vicky from M Records and Bob? Shriver launched a "special Christmas activity" together, which collected the music works of top pop musicians during Christmas and made them into records to support the global Special Olympics plan.

In February p>1988

The International Olympic Committee signed a historic agreement, officially recognizing and accepting the Special Olympics.

In July, 1988,

At the annual meeting of Special Olympics held in Reno, Nevada, the Special Olympics integration movement plan was released and implemented.

April 1 -8, 1989

The 4th International Special Winter Olympics was held in Reno, Nevada and Lake Tao, California. More than 1, athletes from 18 countries participated in the games.

On February 11th, 199

The ABC TV program "Life goes on" dedicated an hour-long story about how a mentally retarded man devoted himself to the Special Olympics.

February 14th, 199

Sargent? Shriver announced a historic decision to admit the Soviet Union into the Special Olympics Movement. Special Olympics is the first charity organization to implement the Special Olympics plan nationwide in this area.

July 2 -27, 199

The Third Special European Summer Olympics was held in Scotland, and 2,4 athletes representing 3 European countries participated in 8 official and 5 exhibition competitions.

July 19 -27, 1991

The 8th Special International Summer Olympics was held in Minnesota, USA, and 6, athletes from more than 1 countries participated in the world's largest sports event that year. (In 1991, the World Games was officially renamed as the International Special Summer Olympics and the Special Winter Olympics)

On September 3, 1992

special olympics international held the 25th anniversary celebration of the Special Olympics with the theme of "We Win Together" at the United Nations Headquarters in new york for the first time, and launched a retrospective exhibition of the 25th anniversary at the United Nations Headquarters, and then toured the whole country.

March 2 -27, 1993

The Fifth Special International Winter Olympics was held in Salzburg and Klemming, Austria. 1,6 athletes from 5 countries competed for five winter sports awards. This is also the first time that the International Winter Special Olympics will be held outside North America.

From July 1st to 9th, 1995

More than 7, athletes from 143 countries participated in the 9th International Special Summer Olympics held in New Haven, Connecticut, USA, and competed in 21 events.

February 1 -8, 1997

About 2, athletes from 73 countries gathered in Toronto, Canada, * * * to compete with five events in the Sixth International Special Winter Olympics. This sports meeting is also the largest comprehensive sports event in 1997.

On July 2th, 1998,

special olympics international held the 3th anniversary celebration called "3 Years Heroes" and introduced 12 global Special Olympics ambassadors.

December 17th, 1998

To celebrate the 3th anniversary of the Special Olympics, US President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton held a Christmas concert called "Special Christmas from Washington" at the White House. This is the first time that the President of the United States has held a banquet on Special Olympics in the White House, and it is also the first time that all artists who participated in the successful launch of the "A Special Christmas Event" series of records have gathered in the White House to perform.

From June 26th to July 4th, 1999

The 1th Special International Summer Olympics was held in North Carolina, USA. More than 7, athletes from 15 countries participated in 19 sports.

January 16th, 2

ABC's first prime-time TV program "Disney's Wonderful World" broadcast the life story of a Special Olympics athlete-"The Story of Loretta".

May 18 -22, 2

China Special Olympics held the "China Special Olympics Century Tour", which influenced all of China. Arnold, an internationally renowned movie star and charity ambassador? Schwarzenegger, together with the Special Olympics athletes, lit the fire of hope on the Great Wall and attended banquets in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen to celebrate the Special Olympics. China Special Olympics promises to increase the number of Special Olympics athletes from 5, to 5, by 25.

On May 2 -23, 2,

6 athletes from all over the world attended the first global athletes' conference held in the Netherlands, and discussed the future of the Special Olympics. Although there are differences in language, culture, age and gender, these athletes try their best to discuss the problem, hoping to further improve the status quo and vote for a new resolution.

May 27th-June 4th, 2

More than 2, athletes from 53 Special Olympics regions in Europe and Eurasia gathered in the Netherlands to participate in the 2 European Special Olympics Games.

December 14th, 2

To celebrate the spirit of Special Olympics, US President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton held a Christmas concert called "Special Christmas from Washington" at the White House. This is the second time that the President of the United States has hosted a banquet on Special Olympics in the White House, and it is also the second time that all artists who participated in the successful launch of the "A Special Christmas Event" series have gathered in the White House to perform.

March 4 -11, 21

More than 1,8 athletes from about 7 countries participated in the 21 Special Olympics International Winter Games held in Alaska, USA, which included seven Special Olympics winter events. This sports meeting is the largest sports event in Alaska's history.

On March 5, 21

The United States Senate convened a meeting of honorary Senator Ted? Steven presided over the hearing to promote the healthy development of mentally retarded people. Special Olympics submitted a report on the health status and needs of people with mental retardation, and promised to take actions to improve the quality of life and life span of people with mental retardation. Some famous spokespersons in the field of mental retardation and people concerned about health attended the hearing.

March 5 -1, 21

The first global youth summit was held during the 21 International Special Winter Olympics. * * * Thirty-four students with mental retardation from all over the world and their non-mental retardation partners reported and discussed how to overcome discrimination and prejudice against children with mental retardation faces during the Games.

July 9 -14, 21

Special Olympics Africa hopes to start a campaign in South Africa in 21-to make the number of Special Olympics athletes in Africa reach 1, by the end of 25. Former South African President Nihlsson? Mandela, current president Thabo Mbeki, archbishop Desmond Tutu and Special Olympics global image ambassador Arnold? Schwarzenegger and the athletes of the Special Olympics in South Africa participated in a week-long activity and lit a "fire of hope" on Robben Island.

September p>21

The latest educational expansion project in the world, "Come and join the Special Olympics", was officially launched. This set of school-based teaching materials is aimed at ordinary school students, including the information of Special Olympics, the mission of Special Olympics and its athletes. Through these curriculum plans, videos and educational activities, students learn to understand and accept people with mental retardation.

On November 16th, 21

Eunice was awarded by the National Sports Institute Alliance Committee? be willing to