Eunice Kennedy Shriver's Special Olympics

At the first Special Olympics, held at Soldier's Field in Chicago in 1968, 1,000 athletes participated.
Bettmann / Corbis

Opening Ceremonies
At the first Special Olympics, held at Soldier's Field in Chicago in 1968, 1,000 athletes participated. By 1970, when this photo was taken, the number of competitors had increased to 2,500. Today, the Special Olympics serves 3 million people.

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