Special Olympics is a world-wide organization providing sports training and competitive opportunities for people with a mental disability. The Special Olympics organization is recognized by Sports Canada as the main provider of these services to people whose primary diagnosis is a mental diability, although some participants also have physical challenges.
In the early sixties, testing of children with mental disabilities revealed that they were only half as physically fit as their non-disabled peers. It was assumed that their low fitness levels were a direct result of their disability. Dr. Frank Hayden, a Tornoto researcher, questioned this assumption.
Dr. Hayden conducted research which concluded that given the opportunity, people with a mental disability could become physically fit and acquire the physical skills necessary to participate in sport.
Inspired by his discoveries, Dr. Hayden began searching for ways to develop a national sports program for people with a mental disability. His work came to the attention of the Kennedy Foundation in Washington, D.C. and led to the creation of Special Olympics. The first sports competition organized under the Special Olympics banner was held at Soldier's Field in Chicago in 1968.
To ensure Canada's representation at the competition, Dr. Hayden called on the renowned broadcaster, successful businessman and humanitarian, Harry "Red" Forster. Mr. Forster accompanied a floor hockey team from Toronto to the competition in Chicago. Mr Forster saw this as an opportunity to enhance the lives of Canadians with a mental disability, and upon returning to Canada he set about laying the foundation for the Special Olympics movement in Canada.
In 1969, the first Canadian Special Olympics event was held in Toronto. Today, over 20,000 athletes with a mental disability participate in Special Olympics programs across the country. Across the world, Special Olympics has grown to service over two million athletes in more than 160 countries.
The information about Special Olympics on the page is extracted from the Coaches Orientation Handbook as provided by B.C. Special Olympics.