50 Years of Special Olympics

Swim lesson, West Pullman Park, 1965Anne Burke leads a swim class for people with intellectual disabilities at West Pullman Park in 1965. Source: Chicago Park District Records: Photographs, Special Collections, Image 106_003_004.

Dinner, Olympic Village, 1968Dinner at the LaSalle Hotel, which served as the Olympic Village for the first Special Olympics, 1968. Source: Chicago Park District Records: Photographs, Special Collections, Image 124_009_001.

Opening of first Special Olympics, 1968Eunice Kennedy Shriver speaks at the opening of first Special Olympics, 1968. Illinois Governor Sam Shapiro is at left. Source: Chicago Park District Records: Photographs, Special Collections, Image 125_001_006.

Broad jump, 1968An athlete competes in the broad jump at the first Special Olympics, 1968. Source: Chicago Park District Records: Photographs, Special Collections, Image 125_001_001.

Softball throw, 1968An athlete competes in the softball throw at the first Special Olympics, 1968. Source: Chicago Park District Records: Photographs, Special Collections, Image 125_001_010.

Water polo, undatedAthletes play water polo in the specially constructed swimming pool at Soldier Field for the Special Olympics, undated. [Anne Burke] looks on. Source: Chicago Park District Records: Photographs, Special Collections, Image 125_005_013.

Torch presentation, 1970Athletes present the torch at the opening of the 1970 Special Olympics, Chicago. Dignitaries look on including Mayor Richard J. Daley and Eunice Kennedy Shriver. Source: Chicago Park District Records: Photographs, Special Collections, Image 125_002_001.

Special Olympics, 1970Anne Burke and a colleague accept an award for their participation in organizing the Special Olympics, 1970. Source: Chicago Park District Records: Photographs, Special Collections, Image 125_015_004.

Award presentation, 1974Award presentation, 1974. Source: Chicago Park District Records: Photographs, Special Collections, Image 124_012_022.

Swimming competition, 1975Swimming competition, 1975. Source: Chicago Park District Records: Photographs, Special Collections, Image 124_013_007.

Volleyball competition, 1975Volleyball competition, 1975. Source: Chicago Park District Records: Photographs, Special Collections, Image 124_013_019.

Chicago area Special Olympics soccer competition, 1984Chicago area Special Olympics soccer competition, 1984. Source: Chicago Park District Records: Photographs, Special Collections, Image 124_016_022.

Torch lighting, undatedAthletes carry the torch for the Special Olympics, undated. Source: Chicago Park District Records: Photographs, Special Collections, Image 125_004_001.

Wheel chair athletes, undatedLeft: Robert Hardem, 1st place, wheel chair run and shot put. Right: Gloria Horn, 2nd place, undated. Source: Chicago Park District Records: Photographs, Special Collections, Image 125_004_003.

Track and field competition, undatedTrack and field competition, undated. Source: Chicago Park District Records: Photographs, Special Collections, Image 125_005_027.

Mexican delegation, undatedAthletes from Mexico enter Soldier Field for the Special Olympics, undated. Source: Chicago Park District Records: Photographs, Special Collections, Image 125_008_051.

Lighting the Special Olympics flame, undatedLighting the Special Olympics flame, undated. Source: Chicago Park District Records: Photographs, Special Collections, Image 125_009_005.

Special Olympics, [1998]Muhammed Ali and Eunice Kennedy Shriver at the 30th Special Olympics in Chicago, [1998]. Source: Chicago Park District Records: Photographs, Special Collections, Image 165_015_004.

The Special Olympics celebrates its 50th anniversary this summer here in Chicago. From July 17 to July 21, the international sporting event for people with intellectual disabilities returns to the Windy City, where it was born in the Chicago Park District in 1968.

In 1965, a young park district employee named Anne Burke began teaching athletic courses to children with intellectual disabilities. Burke would eventually become an Illinois Supreme Court justice, but at the time, her work with and advocacy for people with disabilities ended up fostering a partnership between the park district and Eunice Kennedy Shriver and the Kennedy Foundation to fund programs and, ultimately, competitions for athletes with intellectual disabilities.

The Kennedy Foundation went on to administer the Special Olympics in subsequent years, but the park district continued to develop its programming for people with disabilities. The park district has consistently hosted local and state level sporting events for Special Olympians of all ages. And Chicago, with Chicago Park District as a leading partner, has hosted several other international Special Olympic events, including the second Games in 1970.

Take a look at our photo gallery of Special Olympics athletes competing at park district locations throughout the years. And visit Special Collections to see even more Chicago Park District photographs of Special Olympics events. You can also learn more about the 1968 Special Olympics on the Special Olympics website.