Since the Olympic games began in London this past Friday, I started thinking about how the Special Olympics started and the different contributions the creation of the Special Olympics has provided to people with disabilities.
To begin our journey, let’s first look at the origins of the Special Olympics. Special Olympics was started by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, sister of President John F. Kennedy, in the 1960’s. They had a sister named Rosemary who had an intellectual disability. Eunice saw that people with intellectual disabilities were treated unjustly and, to me, was a very early advocate for the rights of people with disabilities. She wanted to give kids with special needs a place to play, and so, the Special Olympics was born. As of July 2008, Special Olympics has 3 million athletes in 180 countries.
My first experience with Special Olympics was in elementary school in my adaptive gym class. I wasn’t too good at a lot of the sports we played except for bowling. At that time, I had lost interest in playing a sport but, I actually love to bowl now.
Special Olympics caught my eye again later on in life. It is not only a great way to participate in sports but, it also helps build self-esteem and learn the value of teamwork. Not to mention make new friends, get exercise and have fun!
I believe the other benefit the Special Olympics has provided (which I don’t think Eunice Kennedy Shriver intended but, would be very happy about) is that it is a good way to find out about adaptive sports teams and outdoor groups, if that is your thing. A disability shouldn’t stop you from participating in an activity you love if there is a resource out there for you to utilize. What other benefits has the Special Olympics brought to people’s lives?
To find out more about the Special Olympics click here.
Thanks for reading..
cr