Jul 16, 2008 5:18 pm US/Central
City Celebrates Chicago Roots Of Special Olympics
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
Maybe you've heard it from your mom or dad: Focus on what you can do, not what you can't. No event highlights that wisdom better than the Special Olympics.
CBS 2's Roseanne Tellez reports there's a big party coming up to celebrate the people who started it all, right here in Chicago.
It was July 20, 1968, when for the first time ever, athletes with intellectual disabilities came from 26 states and Canada to Chicago to compete in Olympics-style games.
"I am proud to say I have been a Special Olympian since the very first games in Soldier Field in 1968," said athlete Mark Affetto.
"There were actually more athletes on the field than in the stands, 1,000 athletes," said Justice Anne Burke.
The concept came from Justice Burke -- then a 23 year old park district physical education teacher. But she says continued support from Eunice Kennedy Shriver has made the Special Olympics the success they are today.
Mayor Richard M. Daley credited Burke and Shriver with having a wonderful vision, and at a news conference Wednesday, urged Chicagoans to attend a free festival this Saturday at Soldier Field to mark the anniversary.
Chicagoan Chris Kennedy said he thinks the games 40 years ago fulfilled the Olympic ideal more than any Olympic games since Athens.
"Special Olympics taught us of equality freedom, respect, love of competition and the notion of athlete as hero," he said.
Plenty of credit was also given to the late Mayor Richard J. Daley for his support of the games.
And it turns out, even the younger Daley was involved in '68, offering up his convertible to shuttle athletes as a volunteer.
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