RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Special Olympics will celebrate its 50th Anniversary in July of 2018 and has launched a yearlong celebration leading up to this auspicious milestone; and
WHEREAS, Because tine City of Chicago was the birthplace of the Special Olympics, athletes and their families from around the State of Illinois and from 170 countries will visit the city to celebrate this event; and
WHEREAS, The anniversary acknowledges and positions Chicago at the forefront of the global movement for inclusion; and
WHEREAS, In 1968 Special Olympics Chicago was organized by the Honorable Anne M. Burke and was supported by Eunice Kennedy Shriver and the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., Foundation; and
WHEREAS, The first summer games were held on July 20, 1968 at Soldier Field and included 1,000 athletes from 26 states and Canada; and
WHEREAS, Special Olympics Chicago works in tandem with the Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Park District to fulfill its mission; and
WHEREAS, Special Olympics Chicago has grown to more than 5,000 athletes annually who compete in 22 different athletic events; and
WHEREAS, Special Olympics Chicago fosters the physical and mental health of children and adults with disabilities and provides them with sports training and contests that allow them to share their gifts, skills, and friendship; and
WHEREAS, As it approaches five decades of service, Special Olympics is proud to be a global organization that has enriched the lives of countless special needs children and adults and their families; and
WHEREAS, Special Olympics has evolved from exclusive sports for people with intellectual disabilities to inclusive or "unified" sports that bring together people with and without intellectual disabilities; and
WHEREAS, A series of high-profile events celebrating this anniversary will build worldwide awareness of unified inclusion and highlight Chicago's leading role in the movement; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the members of the Chicago ...
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