Celebrate Special Olympics Vermont's
50th Anniversary
1971 - 2021
It's time to celebrate our athletes!
Celebrating a Half Century of Inclusive Sport & Health
POSTPONED - DETAILS TBD
Based on guidance from our keynote speaker, Dr. Mark Levine, Vermont Health Commissioner, Special Olympics Vermont has postponed our 50th Anniversary celebration, originally scheduled for Sunday, September 19th, at Hildene, in Manchester.
We are very fortunate in Vermont to have such high vaccination rates, and relatively low risk of transmission, especially among people who are vaccinated. Still, Covid and the delta variant remain present in the state.
Celebrating our 50th anniversary is a significant milestone. We want to be able to gather together to recognize the rich history of the organization and the accomplishments and joy of our athletes over the past five decades. We will do just that, once we can safely do so.
We appreciate your understanding and continued support.
It's time to
reflect on our history.
When Eunice Kennedy Shriver founded Special Olympics in 1968, she took an historic and rebellious stand against the injustices faced by people with intellectual disabilities.
Her solution was simple: give people with intellectual disabilities a chance to demonstrate their abilities and value through sport.
50 years later, Special Olympics has grown from a summer camp held in Mrs. Shriver’s backyard to a global movement reaching more than five million individuals with intellectual disabilities in 170 countries. Despite this amazing feat, people with intellectual disabilities continue to face an uphill battle for inclusion. The fight against complacency, ignorance and stigma Mrs. Shriver initiated 50 years ago is just as critical today.
Just as Eunice Kennedy Shriver did in 1968, Special Olympics is setting a stake in the ground and is once again prepared to alter the course of history.
