From 65438 to 0968, the first Special Olympics was held in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was funded by the Kennedy Foundation and organized by shriver, who actively advocated and devoted himself to the Special Olympics. More than 65,438+0,000 mentally retarded people from 26 states in the United States and Canada participated in track and field, indoor hockey and water sports. Up to now, special olympics international has hosted 1 1 Summer Special Olympics and 8 Winter Special Olympics.
Special olympics international is the international authoritative organization and management organization of Special Olympics, and is also an organization recognized by the International Olympic Committee that can use the name "Olympic" globally and independently carry out sports activities. China Sports Association for People with Mental Retardation was founded in 1985, and joined special olympics international in the same year. On 1987,19, 1995, 1999, it organized delegations to participate in the Summer Special Olympics and Paralympics. The Summer Special Olympics will be held one year before the Olympic Games, and the Paralympic Games will be held immediately after the Olympic Games. Special Olympics and Paralympics are independent organizations recognized by the International Olympic Committee.
Special olympics international, founded in 1968, is an international organization that provides sports training and competitions for children and adults with mental retardation all over the world. Currently it has 160 members (countries and regions). At present, its headquarters has more than 80 staff members, who are mainly responsible for managing and guiding special Olympic activities around the world, supervising the organization of international and national special Olympic Games and coaching training. China Special Olympics was founded in 1985 and joined special olympics international in July of the same year.
The mission of the Special Olympics is to create conditions and opportunities for mentally retarded children and adults over the age of 8 to participate in daily Olympic sports training and competitions, give full play to their potential and courage, and share happiness, exchange skills and enhance friendship with other Special Olympics athletes and their families during the competition. Its goal is: to provide equal opportunities for people with mental retardation to participate in social life and display their skills and talents, to enhance the public's understanding of their abilities and needs, and to make them become people who are beneficial to society and accepted and respected by society; Its slogan is: try bravely and strive for victory.
Special olympics international takes the Olympic connotation and tradition as a model, and holds the special olympics international once every two years, with summer and winter alternating. Up to 2000, special olympics international * * * held 10 Summer Special Olympics and 6 Winter Special Olympics. Summer Special Olympics events mainly include water sports, golf, track and field, gymnastics, basketball, weightlifting, bowling, roller skating, cycling, softball, equestrian, tennis, football and volleyball, while winter Special Olympics events include alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, speed skating and figure skating. It is reported that the 7th Winter Special Olympics and the 11th International Summer Special Olympics will be held in the United States and Ireland in 2000/KLOC-0 and 2003 respectively.
Special olympics international has five characteristics: athletes (or parents) who participate in training or competitions do not charge; Provide various competition opportunities for athletes with different abilities; Group athletes according to their abilities on a fair and reasonable basis; Participants can get honors; On the basis of special Olympics competitions in various regions, the qualifications for participating in a higher level competition will be selected.
Special olympics international implements the board system, and there are mentally retarded people on the board and in the staff of the headquarters. At present, hundreds of mentally handicapped people around the world have become coaches and administrators of the Special Olympics. The purpose of Special Olympics is to emphasize their ability rather than' incompetence' and let them live as normal as possible, including work and family.