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2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games

Thank you for visiting our Special Olympics page. We hope that after reading about the Special Olympics you will feel motivated, inspired and eager to volunteer to help with the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games Host Town Programme from June 16-20 2003.



What is Special Olympics?



Special Olympics is a year-round sports training and competition programme for children and adults with a learning disability.



It began in 1963, when Eunice Kennedy Shriver started a summer day camp for children with learning disabilities at her home in Maryland, USA. The purpose was to explore their capabilities in a variety of sports and physical activities. From this start, she has been a leader in the worldwide struggle to improve and enhance the lives of individuals with a learning disability for more than three decades.



Today 160 countries have a Special Olympics programme and almost one millian athletes train and compete on a regular basis. It is largely a volunteer organisation with 750,000 volunteers around the world coaching, administering and assisting the athletes to be their best.



Special Olympics Ireland



In Ireland the movement spans the whole island and has 12,000 athletes competing in 11 sports.



2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games



This is the first time that this major event will be held outside of the US and it will be the largest sporting event in the world in 2003. We are expecting 48,000 visitors to the island of Ireland for the Games, from June 21-29. This is a marvellous opportunity for all of us to showcase the island of Ireland, and to show the world what we are capable of.



To read full details on the 2003 Special Olympics click here to visit our website: www.skibbereen.ie/specialolympics