The first International Special Olympics was held in Chicago's Soldier Park in July of 1968. Before this event, there was no opportunity for mentally disabled children and adults to compete in sporting events. With the help of the Kennedy Foundation, mentally disabled citizens have been given the chance to take part in the kinds of sporting events unavailable to them before the advent of the competition. Under the leadership of Eunice Kennedy Shriver and with the efforts of thousands of volunteers, mentally disabled children and adults now compete locally, regionally, and internationally in games based on the Greek Olympics.

Traditionally, mentally disabled children did not receive many opportunities to take part in physical activities because popular theory held that they did not need physical activity. As a result, these children were never given the chance to excel in sports or physical activity, and many mentally disabled children...