Special Olympics North Carolina - Charlotte

Eunice Kennedy Shriver founded Special Olympics with a vision that individuals with intellectual disabilities were far more capable in sports and physical activity than many experts believed possible. In 1968 Mrs. Shriver organized the first Special Olympics International Games in Chicago, Ill. Six athletes from North Carolina were among the participants. Special Olympics North Carolina held its first Games in 1970 with 400 participants and has since grown to be recognized globally as one of the largest Special Olympics programs in the world. Nearly 40,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities participate in Special Olympics North Carolina.