On July 20, 1968, 1,000 athletes from the United States and Canada gathered to compete at Chicago’s Soldier Field in the first ever Special Olympics.
Athlete Carla McNearny shares her lifestyle choices, journey with Special Olympics
On June 1, 2018, nearly 3,000 athletes from 83 Michigan counties celebrated the organization's 50th anniversary during the closing ceremonies of Special Olympics Michigan at Kelly/Shorts Stadium, nearly 275 miles from the original games.
Athlete Richard Hess, who participated in the 1968 Special Olympics and served as grand marshal for the opening parade, acted as co-emcee of the games' closing ceremony, alongside WKYZ-TV reporter Ann Marie Laflamme.