RESOLUTION FOR BOARD MEETING OF JULY 12, 2018
Title
RESOLUTION sponsored by the Board of Commissioners recognizing the 50th Anniversary of the Special Olympics and all the athletes competing (As Revised)
Body
WHEREAS, in 1962, Eunice Kennedy Shriver invited young people with intellectual disabilities to a summer day camp she hosted in her backyard calling it "Camp Shriver"; and
WHEREAS, the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation provided a grant to the Chicago Park District to begin a Special Recreation Program, and
WHEREAS, Anne McGlone Burke, a physical education teacher in the Special Recreation Program, traveled to Washington, DC to meet with Mrs. Shriver to seek funding for her idea for a city-wide track meet, and
WHEREAS, Mrs. Shriver embraced Anne's idea and pledged the Kennedy Foundation's financial support for an expanded, multi-sport, nationwide event for persons with intellectual differences, and
WHEREAS, in 1968, the first International Special Olympics Summer Games were held at Soldier Field in Chicago, and
WHEREAS, since the beginning, Special Olympics has been based on the premise that lasting change must start with young people; and
WHEREAS, through sports and leadership activities, Special Olympics provides opportunities for young people of all abilities to be leaders in their schools and communities; and
WHEREAS, fifty years later, the Special Olympics are returning to Chicago this July to launch the year-long global Special Olympics 50th Anniversary celebrations; and
WHEREAS, Soldier Field, the birthplace of Special Olympics, will host a festival of inclusion from July 17th through July 21st, including sports activities, interactive games, exhibits, delicious food offerings, and live entertainment that will serve as the spark for people around the world to commit to making their cities more inclusive; and
WHEREAS, the first ever Olympics Unified Cup competition will team people with and without intellectual disabilities from all over the world and will include a total of 24 international football/soccer teams; and
WHEREAS, also planned is a star-studded Global Day of Inclusion on Saturday, July 21st where the public can "Play Unified" and join in fun athletic competition with Special Olympics athletes; and
WHEREAS, there will also be a Commemorative Law Enforcement Torch Run and the ceremonial lighting of the Special Olympics Eternal Flame of Hope, which will symbolize the burning passion for inclusion and justice for people with intellectual disabilities; and
WHEREAS, Special Olympics transforms lives through the joy of sport, every day, with more than 5 million athletes in 172 countries and over a million volunteers; and
WHEREAS, through the power of sports, people with intellectual disabilities discover new strengths, abilities, skills, success, joy, confidence and fulfillment on the playing field and in life; and
WHEREAS, Special Olympics works to spread compassion and acceptance in a way that can unite the world; and
WHEREAS, Special Olympics knows no boundaries, with all athletes participating without regard to gender, race, religion, economic or education level; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, on behalf of ourselves and staff, hereby recognize the 50th Anniversary of the Special Olympics and all the athletes competing; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Resolution be spread upon the permanent Record of Proceedings of the Board of Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago.
Dated: July 12, 2018
Approved: MARIYANA T. SPYROPOULOS, President; BARBARA J. MCGOWAN, Vice President; FRANK AVILA, Chairman, Committee on Finance; KENNETH DUNKIN; MARTIN J. DURKAN; JOSINA MORITA; DEBRA SHORE; KARI K. STEELE; DAVID J. WALSH; Commissioners of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
Approved as to Form and Legality: Susan T. Morakalis, General Counsel, STM:BTK:kk