In 1962, Shriver founded Camp Shriver, a summer day camp for children and adults with intellectual disabilities at her Maryland farm to explore their capabilities in a variety of sports and physical activities.Eunice Kennedy Shriver | JFK Library From that camp came the concept of Special Olympics. Shriver founded the Special Olympics in 1968. That year, the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation helped to plan and fund the First International Special Olympics Summer Games, held in Chicago's Soldier Field where 1,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities from 26 states and Canada competed. In her speech at the opening ceremony, Shriver said, "The Chicago Special Olympics prove a very fundamental fact, the fact that exceptional children — children with mental retardation — can be exceptional athletes, the fact that through sports they can realize their potential for growth." Special Olympics Inc. was established as a nonprofit charity in 1968; since that time, nearly three million athletes have participated.
in 1962 shriver founded camp shriver a summer day camp for children and adults with intellectual disabilities at her maryland farm to explore their capabilities in a variety of sports and physical activitieseunice kennedy shriver | jfk library from that camp came the concept of special olympics shriver founded the special olympics in 1968 that year the joseph p kennedy jr foundation helped to plan and fund the first international special olympics summer games held in chicago's soldier field where 1000 athletes with intellectual disabilities from 26 states and canada competed in her speech at the opening ceremony shriver said "the chicago special olympics prove a very fundamental fact the fact that exceptional children — children with mental retardation — can be exceptional athletes the fact that through sports they can realize their potential for growth" special olympics inc was established as a nonprofit charity in 1968; since that time nearly three million athletes have participated