The first International Special Olympics Summer Games were held in Chicago in 1968

2. Special Olympics is the world's largest sports organization for children and adults with disabilities, providing year-round training and competitions to more than 4 million athletes in 170 countries

3. The next Special Olympics World Summer Games will be in Los Angeles, California from July 24 to August 2, 2015

4. The last Special Olympics World Winter Games will be in South Korea from January 29 to February 5, 2013

5. Special Olympics competitions are held every day, all around the world—including local, national and regional competitions, adding up to more than 53,000 events a year

6. In June 1962, Eunice Kennedy Shriver(sister of JFK) started a day camp, known as Camp Shriver, for children with intellectual disabilities

7. Anne McGlone Burke, a physical education teacher with the Chicago Park District, began with the idea for a one-time Olympic-style athletic competition for people with special needs..

8. The first International Special Olympics Summer Games were held in Chicago in 1968

9. At the July 1968 games, Shriver announced the formation of Special Olympics.

10. Special Olympics launched in Great Britain in 1972

11. The first National Summer Games in this country were in Brighton 1975

12. The first International Special Olympics Winter Games were held in February 1977 in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, USA

13. In 1988, the Special Olympics was officially recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC)

14. Special Olympics has over 32 Olympic-type individual and team sports that provide meaningful training and competition opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities

15. Elaine Daykin wanting a physical outlet for her son Richard who was born with Downs Syndrome started a small group in a local Special Education School in Redditch in 1989

16. Elaine had the idea after attending the first Leicester National Summer Games in 1989

17. The group went from strength to strength- • Creating groups in Worcester, Malvern & Bromsgrove • This became known as Worcestershire Special Olympics • From Pitcheroak School the groupwent onto the YMCA to train weekly

18. In 1993 due to the massive logistics of such a big group it was decided to create a Redditch group. • This allowed us to maximise the potential of our Olympians • The group became known as Special Olympics Redditch • We have been training at the Trinity High School since 1995

19. Today we have over 50 Olympians registered with SOGB • 20 volunteers • Our own website www.specialolympics/org.uk • Launched the newsletter – newsred • A strong committee consisting of parents non parents and Olympians • Our Patron is local MP Karen Lumley

20. Training • We train every week at the trinity • Also have fortnightly Swimming training at the Abbey Stadium • Recently re started Gymnastics training at Kingsley every Wednesday

21. We would like to thank all those who support us with their time • A special thanks to those companies & organisations who have also supported us in the past and for those partners who continue to provide funds, grants & donations • Thanks also to our trophy, merchandise equipment and kit suppliers

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