University of Utah to host Special Olympics Fall Classic

Intermountain Catholic

+ Enlarge

John Paul Brophey, a Saint Olaf parishioner and Special Olympics athlete, hugs the Jazz Bear in the ?high-five' line, a favorite activity for many athletes as they get to meet their fans and supporters during the opening ceremonies.

SALT LAKE CITY – Eunice Kennedy Shriver was honored Sept. 25 throughout the United States as the founder of Special Olympics, Community of Caring, a Best Buddies International board member and champion of all people with intellectual disabilities. Schools across the United States honored her legacy during the week of Sept. 20-24.

The first Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day was Sept. 25, and it originated at the University of Utah, where Shriver’s National Center for Community Caring is headquartered. The program’s five core values are caring, respect, responsibility, trust and family. The day was created to inspire people to experience her legacy and embrace the movement that she founded in 1968.

The Community of Caring has been adopted by 1,400 schools nationwide and in Canada.

"We are a kindergarten through 12th grade comprehensive program that helps to empower schools to develop a foundation of positive relationships in their school community based upon five core values," said Dr. David Parker, associate director for the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Center for Community of Caring. "The national center has been affiliated with the College of Education at the University of Utah since 2005. It was then that Kennedy moved the center from Washington, D.C. to Utah, under the direction of Dr. Mike Hardman, dean of the College of Education."

Shriver’s original concept for Community of Caring was to create school environments in which children with intellectual disabilities would gain the skills to become strong and independent. She wanted young people to be able to make decisions that would enlarge their capacities to contribute to the goodness of their families, schools, communities and nation.

Shriver’s legacy also includes the Special Olympics. The University of Utah will host the Special Olympics Fall Sport Classic Oct. 15-16, and the athletes will compete in basketball, bocce and aquatics.

"We will have an Olympic Village where the athletes will have entertainment and be able to participate in crafts and other activities when they are not competing," said Lynn Reese, spokesperson of Special Olympics of Utah. "We also have a program called Healthy Athletes, where there will be a free health screening for teeth, ears, and eyes."

On Oct. 15, the competitions will be held prior to the opening ceremonies, which will be in the Huntsman Center. The event will end with a dance. Most of the competitions will take place in the University HPER buildings.

"We expect to have about 750 athletes from throughout Utah," Reese said. "We run the event just like the Olympics, where athletes will receive gold, silver and bronze medals."

The 4th degree Knights of Columbus from Utah will serve as the honor guard during the Special Olympics opening ceremonies at 6 p.m.; they then will participate in the parade of athletes and "high-five" line.

"The Knights of Columbus started participating in the Special Olympics in 1968 in Massachusetts when Eunice Kennedy Shriver founded the organization," said David Matyjasik, Knight of Columbus Special Olympics coordinator. "Kennedy’s sister had a mental disability, and her brother, the late President John F. Kennedy, stressed physical fitness for children. The Knights became involved because Eunice’s husband, Sargent Shriver, was a 4th Degree Knight in Maryland, and he asked the State Deputy of Maryland how the Knights could be involved. The Knights performed the honor guard at the first Special Olympic Games in Soldier Field in Chicago in 1968, and continue to do so. Since that time almost $400 million has been donated internationally to Special Olympics."