1968 Special Olympics World Summer Games information
Multi-sport event in Chicago, Illinois, US
1st Special Olympics World Summer Games
Host city
Chicago, United States
Nations
2
Athletes
1,000
Events
3 sports
Opening
July 20
Closing
July 20
Athlete's Oath
Eunice Shriver
Torch lighter
"James," a seventeen-year-old young man[1]
Main venue
Soldier Field
Summer
1970 Chicago →
The 1968 Special Olympics World Summer Games were held in Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois, United States, on July 20, 1968. Some of the smaller indoor events were held in the Conrad Hilton Hotel on Michigan Avenue. The event was co-sponsored by the Chicago Park District and the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation.[2]
1,000 athletes from 26 U.S. states, and Canada competed in track and swimming. Swimming had two events including 25 meter races, and track and field had four events including 50 yard dash, 300 yard run, and standing long jump. There was also a softball throwing event.[3][4]
The athlete's oath was introduced at these games by founder Eunice Shriver at the opening ceremony. The oath is, "Let me win. But if I can not win, let me be brave in the attempt."
Notable athletes volunteered at the games, including Jesse Owens, Rafer Johnson, George Armstrong, and Stan Mikita.[5]
^"History - 1968 Games". Special Olympics. August 2018. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
^"Local Youths Win Medals". Dixon Evening Telegraph. 23 July 1986. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
^"Local Youths Win Medals". Dixon Evening Telegraph. 23 July 1968. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
^"Center Athletes 2nd in Olympics". Centralia Evening Sentinel. 22 July 1968. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
^Cite error: The named reference stadiumanditscity was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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