Who Started It All?
This famous family member of JFK started the Special Olympics.
Who is Eunice Kennedy Shriver?
She is the sister of John F. Kennedy, and their sister, Rosemary, had an intellectual ability which inspired her to create an inclusive Olympics.
How many athletes does the Special Olympics have?
5 million!
The movement called Unified Sports brings people with and without intellectual abilities together to play sports around the world.
True or False: All Special Olympics athletes compete using the exact same rules and equipment as professional athletes.
What is False?
Some modifications include shorter distances, lighter or smaller equipment, or allowing assistance. These modifications ensure that all athletes can participate meaningfully and safely, no matter their ability level.
The main goal of the Special Olympics is to promote this.
What is inclusion?
While the Olympics and Paralympics focus on performance, the Special Olympics allows everyone to prove they are more than their disability.
Eunice Kennedy Shriver started her summer camp for children with intellectual abilities in an unexpected location.
What is her backyard?
She started it in her Maryland home backyard to create more opportunities for people with disabilities.
True or False: The Special Olympics only happens in the United States.
What is False?
It is in 190+ countries today.
Name a sport played in the Special Olympics.
What is any sport?
All sports are played in the Special Olympics, but most are modified to make them accessible to everyone.
Name one benefit athletes get from participating (besides just playing sports).
What is confidence, health, friendship, etc.?
Athletes are able to adopt healthier lifestyles, achieve personal goals that boost confidence, and they build relationships through team sports.
Which U.S. city hosted the first Special Olympics event?
What is Chicago?
It was hosted at Soldier Field as the Chicago Special Olympics.
Every four years, athletes from around the world come together to compete in this global Special Olympics event.
What is the Special Olympics World Games?
Because the Special Olympics is a movement rather than actual games alone, the games are held in different countries and features thousands of athletes.
Give one example of a way a sport might be modified in the Special Olympics.
What is using a smaller ball, shorter distance, or rule simplification?
In Special Olympics basketball, teams can play with fewer players, use shorter hoops, or allow multiple attempts at free throws, depending on the athlete’s ability level. The goal is not to make the sport easier but to make it fair and accessible.
The Special Olympics helps change the way people view individuals with intellectual disabilities by breaking down these.
What are stereotypes or barriers?
The Special Olympics shift perceptions of athletes and promote acceptance.
What decade were the first Special Olympics held?
What is the 1960s?
Eunice recognized the lack of opportunities for anyone with a disability at that time, so she created the Special Olympics.
The Special Olympics takes place only once every four years. True or False?
What is False?
The Special Olympics are year-round, taking place in many countries around the world. Usually they take place in communities or at the Special Olympics Games.
This is how the Special Olympics ensures athletes compete against others with similar skill levels.
What is divisioning?
Since athletes have different ages, skill levels, and abilities, divisioning groups them so they compete against others who are as similar to them as possible.
The Special Olympics shows the word that ability matters more than this.
What is disability?
People tend to focus on what someone can't do, so this gives someone with a disability a chance to prove what they are able to do.
What was the original summer camp that led to the Special Olympics called?
What is Camp Shriver?
Eunice recruited people from special needs schools and clinics who may be interested in both participating and helping. This way kids were able to have fun like every other kid their age.
This is how the Special Olympics make sure athletes in every region get chances to compete year-round.
What are local and regional programs?
There's a program in Michigan called SOMI that hold events at schools that is ran by volunteers in their own communities.
Some athletes walk instead of run, use assistive devices, or play simplified versions of games. What do all of these changes help promote?
What is inclusion or equal opportunity?
This gives people who typically are given less opportunities the chance to succeed and grow in an encouraging environment.
By building confidence, friendships, and a sense of purpose, the Special Olympics creates more than athletes—it builds these.
What are strong, empowered individuals (or leaders, role models, etc.)?