“Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”
– Special Olympics Athlete Oath
Eunice Kennedy Shriver wrote this down on the morning of July 20, 1968, the day of the first Special Olympics International Games. She spoke the oath at the Opening Ceremony, and ever since, Special Olympic athletes have been pledging it at every Special Olympic competition.
Today is the seventh annual Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day! We celebrate this every year to honor Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the founder of Special Olympics. She changed the lives of athletes with intellectual disabilities by providing them with a way to train and compete in sports, and she changed the lives of everyone in the world by creating a way for inclusion.
She was a hero in changing the world, and every day, Special Olympics continues on her heroic legacy. By reciting the Athlete Oath 48 years ago, Eunice Kennedy Shriver started a movement toward inclusion, and all of the 4.7 million current Special Olympics athletes and 1 million coaches and volunteers have continued her effort to create a world that celebrates people’s abilities instead of disabilities. Thank you, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, for giving the world Special Olympics. ❤
Click on the images below to make them bigger and celebrate EKS Day and Special Olympics with me! 🙂
Great blog with all the pics I enjoyed. Because of my admiration of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, I have always wanted to go to the Special Olympics. I met Eunice often for various meetings and events when I worked at the Pentagon. She was amazing.
Elizabeth Anstadt Downey
President, Pennsylvania State Grange
20 Erford Road, #216
Lemoyne, Pa 17043
1-800-552-3865
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Muncy, PA 17756
570-435-2007
Cell 570-419-6849
“If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.” – Henry Ford.
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That’s really awesome that you met her! I would have loved to meet her. 🙂
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