Special Olympics is a global movement that unleashes the human spirit through the transformative power and joy of sports, every day around the world. Special Olympics empowers people with intellectual disabilities to become accepted and valued members of their communities, which leads to a more respectful and inclusive society for all.  Using sports as the catalyst and programming around  health and education, Special Olympics is fighting inactivity, injustice and teaching tolerance. Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the Special Olympics movement has grown to more than 4.5 million athletes in 175 countries.  With the support of more than 1.4 million coaches and z, Special Olympics delivers more than 30 Olympic-type sports in more than 82,000 games and competitions each year. Visit www.specialolympics.org to learn more.