Special Olympics By: Kristin M, Ericka B, Ashley C, Stephanie R, and Valeri C

٭Our motto Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.

Who is the Leader? ¤ The ¤ The leader is Eunice Kennedy Shriver, she is the founder and honary Chairman, and Sargent Shriver is the chairman of the board.

How Did we Start?? How Did we Start?? u In 1986 Eunice Kennedy Shriver organized the First International Special Olympics Games at Soldier Field, in Chicago Illinois. The concept was in born in the 1600’s, she had decided to start a day camp for people with mental retardation. By 1986 she discovered that millions of children and adults have participated in the Special Olympics.

Purpose [ Our mission is to provide a year round camp for people with mental retardation, we are also giving them opportunities to develop physical strength, demonstrate courage, experience fun, and to communicate with other people that have mental retardation.

Our goal is to have everyone with mental retardation or a mental illness to have the chance to become people who are, wanted, people who are useful and are productive citizens that are respected in there communities even though they are mentally retarded or have a mental illness

The Special Olympics are established in all 50 states, also in the District of Columbia, Guam, the Virgin Islands and American Samoa. Almost 25,000 communities in the United States have Special Olympics programs. Since the Special Olympics started public school districts have done physical education curriculum and to provide extracurricular and interscholastic sports to elementary and secondary students with mental retardation. The Special Olympics Mega-Cities program coordinates training and competition in schools, communities, recreation programs, group homes, and institutions in 11 areas.

Why would you want to volunteer for the Special Olympics? The reason you would want to volunteer is to try to help the people with mental retardation. Another reason to volunteer is to help the people with mental retardation understand that just because the have a mental illness, doesn’t mean they are not normal, or that they are all not wanted. It will also help you as a person understand that you can be a big help to some people. For example, if your friend has mental retardation or a mental illness, you now know what they go through for the rest of their lives.

Always remember this quote: “ ….Let me Win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.” that quote means that even if you are mentally ill or are mentally retarded doesn’t mean that you can’t win while you are trying your hardest, it also means that if you cannot win then you can at least try, because if you try then that is all that matters to everyone.

F Go to the Special Olympics Web Site Go to the Special Olympics Web Site