Forty Years of Bravery, and Counting

For two weeks this summer the whole world was united in our admiration for the grace, energy and efforts of the athletes who competed at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China. Through these athletes, we experience pride in our country and the thrill of competition.

Forty years ago this summer, Eunice Kennedy Shriver open the first International Special Olympics Games (now World Games), giving athletes who cope with intellectual disabilities the same opportunity to strive for personal excellence and feel the exhilaration of meeting expectations and being tested through competition. To open the games in 1968, Mrs. Shriver spoke the words of the Athlete's Oath, which are now so well known: “Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt."

Since those first games were held at Soldier Field in Chicago, the number of athletes who participate in Special Olympics has grown from a few hundred athletes to 2.8 million athletes in over 180 countries in all regions of the world with more than 29,000 competitions year round. The Special Olympics World Games are held every four years. Most recently, in 2007 the summer games were in Shanghai, China. Next up, the 2009 World Winter Games will be held in Idaho, starting February 7th. It will be the largest multi-sport event ever held in the state of Idaho.

While the Special Olympics make a big impact on the lives of athletes, there are some who would say that the volunteers get the biggest benefit. Over 700,000 people volunteer at the Special Olympics, and it seems to change them as much as it helps the athletes. "Harry and all the other athletes are the reason I got involved in Special Olympics and the reason I continue to volunteer. The athletes I’ve known over the years truly know the meaning of dedication, the meaning of giving their all. The athletes thank me for what I do for them, but it is really the athletes who deserve my thanks — for what they do for me.” Laura Molinaro, Volunteer, Coach and Unified Sports Partner, Special Olympics New Jersey (USA) Often several people in a company will get together to volunteer as a group. In 1994, employees at Otis Elevator decided to band together to support the Special Olympics.

Within one year, they'd organized a team of 900 volunteers — including 100 from outside of the US — to volunteer at the 1995 World Games in Connecticut. Today Team Otis has 4,000 volunteers and has raised almost $1 million dollars to support the games. When Mattel Inc. entered into a partnership with the Special Olympics, they attracted the biggest volunteer team in corporate history, over 1,200 employees in the US, Asia, the Netherlands and UK. And the entire country of Ireland is involved, from celebrity supporter Colin Farrell, to the group of volunteers who vowed to send a team of supporters to cheer Team Ireland and volunteer at the games, no matter where they are held. Ireland sent 26 volunteers to the 2007 games in China, which was covered in the national sports news every day. Even Ireland's President, Mary McAleese, got involved, sending a letter of encouragement to be read on the number one morning radio show.

It's easy to volunteer, from spending a few hours as a time keeper at a local games, or traveling overseas as a coach. The first step is to find your local program, and find out what their specific needs are. From administrative to coaching to fund-raising to officiating, if you can do it, they can probably use your help. “Every time I feel as though I am incapable of doing something, I think of the athletes because they have taught me by example how to be persistent with my goals and increase my capacity to love,” says Vanessa Nieto Diaz, Special Olympics Panama Volunteer and Coach. And in turn, we can certainly all use that kind of encouragement and example. Congratulations to the Special Olympics for 40 years of being both successful and brave.

Photos: TOP: Thierry Dozot, Special Olympics Belgium athlete, in training with his coach, Johan Aers, prior to the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Dublin, Ireland (Photo by Barry Cronin, IRELAND OUT) BOTTOM: Special Olympic Ireland volunteers Amy (left) and Jenny Keene were two of the 26 volunteers who traveled to Japan and worked at the Healthy Athletes venue (Photo by Dr. Stephen Corbin)