Original version

BBC World Service Online

Sporting Witness

Podcasts

Factual: History

Sport

The inside and personal story of the key moments from sporting history

Sporting Witness: The First Special Olympics

Documentaries

special us teamcropped .jpg

30/08/2014

The First Special Olympics

BBC World Service - Sporting Witness, The First Special Olympics

How the first games for athletes with intellectual disabilities was organised in 1968

How the Kennedy family developed the first games for athletes with intellectual disabilities in Chicago in 1968.

In the summer of 1968, the first games for athletes with intellectual disabilities was held in Chicago. They were promoted by the Kennedy family, one of whom had learning difficulties. Sporting Witness talks to Frank Olivo, who won the 50-yard race, and Anne Burke, a Chicago schoolteacher who helped organise the event.

Picture: Members of the US Special Olympic team (Private Collection)

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Sporting Witness

The First Special Olympics

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service Online

About BBC World Service