The Legacy of Eunice Kennedy Shriver
Eunice Kennedy Shriver founded Special Olympics in 1968, with the first international Special Olympics Games at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. Her son, Dr. Timothy P. Shriver, is currently the Chairman of the Special Olympics International Board of Directors. Mary Davis currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer. The Special Olympics International Board of Directors is comprised of a range of leaders in sports, business, entertainment and government.
Special Olympics Through The Years
1968
Connecticut sends three athletes to the very first Special Olympics Summer Games at Soldier Field in Chicago. A thousand athletes from 26 states and Canada participate and compete in track & field, swimming and floor hockey.
1969
The University of Connecticut hosts the first Connecticut Special Olympics Summer Games with 800 participants.
1971
Connecticut Special Olympics, Inc. is formed with an executive committee. The U.S. Olympic Committee gives Special Olympics official approval as one of the only two organizations authorized to use the name “Olympic” in the United States.
1977
Connecticut sends a team to the first International Special Olympics Winter Games in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. More than 500 athletes compete in skiing and skating events.
1980
Connecticut Special Olympics opens its first state office, led by its first full-time Executive Director.
1981
Connecticut Special Olympics holds its first event honoring outstanding athletes, volunteers, coaches, families and sponsors.
1981
The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics is launched in Kansas, inspired by Police Chief Richard LaMunyon who saw an urgent need to raise awareness of the organization.
1983
The first Special Olympics Winter Games in Connecticut are held at Powder Ridge Ski Area.
1986
Connecticut’s first Law Enforcement Torch Run takes place, as the Special Olympics Torch with its “Flame of Hope” is carried by officers from Hartford to the site of Summer Games, Fairfield University.
1986
The United Nations in New York City launches the International Year of Special Olympics under the banner “Special Olympics- Uniting the World.”
1988
Special Olympics Unified Sports programs are introduced in Connecticut.
1991
Connecticut’s first Penguin Plunge fundraiser is held at the Madison Surf Club in Madison, CT.
1992
Special Olympics Connecticut teams up with the Connecticut Association of Schools/Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference to offer Unified Sports to students of all abilities enrolled in the state’s elementary, middle and high schools.
1995
Special Olympics Connecticut hosts the 9th Special Olympics World Summer Games in New Haven. The Healthy Athletes and Host Towns programs debut at this event.
1997
Healthy Athletes becomes an official Special Olympics initiative.
2000
A schedule of events that includes four major state games and four seasons of training- held annually is adopted. The events include Winter Games, Summer Games, the Fall Sports Festival and the Holiday Sports Classic.
2003
The first Special Olympics Games outside of the United States was held in Dublin, Ireland. About 7,000 athletes participated in the event.
2005
The first Michaels Jewelers’ Unified Sports Cup Awards Ceremony is held to honor outstanding teammates who participate in Unified Sports at their schools.
2006
Connecticut sends a delegation of 61 athletes, coaches and volunteers to the first-ever Special Olympics USA Summer Games, held in Ames, Iowa.
2007
The Young Athletes program is introduced in Connecticut to engage children of all abilities, ages 2 to 7, in social and athletic activities.
2009
Connecticut hosts the Annual Law Enforcement Torch Run International Conference at Foxwoods Resort Casino.
2014
Connecticut establishes and introduces the Unified Sports Fitness Club. Three teams are formed and participate during the Club’s first year.
2016
The Fall Sports Festival and Holiday Classic are renamed the Unified Sports Fall Festival and Unified Sports Holiday Classic, to better represent the inclusive spirit of the events.
2016
Special Olympics North America establishes the Unified Champion Banner Schools program to provide National recognition to schools with exemplary Unified programs. Thirty-one Connecticut schools receive this recognition during the first year, more than any other state.
2017
According to the latest census, more than one million people around the world are playing Unified Sports, a program inspired by the bold, innovative thinking of Special Olympics Connecticut Past President Beau Doherty.
2018
Special Olympics Connecticut provides approximately 1,800 Healthy Athletes screenings in seven disciplines and trains 296 healthcare professionals in treating people with intellectual disabilities in medical settings.
2018
Special Olympics Connecticut joins a world-wide celebration of a major milestone — Special Olympics’ 50th anniversary.
2019
Connecticut received recognition by Special Olympics, Inc. as a Healthy Community. Healthy Community recognition is awarded to Special Olympics programs worldwide that have met criteria to ensure athletes can perform their best on and off the field.