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1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The Special Olympics serves children, adults, and
3adults of advancing age who have been diagnosed with an
4intellectual disability limiting their adaptive skills
5necessary to live, work, and contribute in the community; and
 
6    WHEREAS, The Special Olympics movement was launched in July
7of 1968 when Anne McGlone Burke and Eunice Kennedy Shriver led
81,000 intellectually disabled athletes from 26 states and
9Canada to Chicago's Soldier Field to compete in Olympic-styled
10track and field events; and
 
11    WHEREAS, In July of 2018, the Special Olympics will
12commemorate its 50th Anniversary through a series of week-long
13events in Chicago with approximately 70,000 attendees
14highlighting the evolution of the Special Olympics from
15exclusive sports meant only for people with intellectual
16disabilities, to inclusive sports meant for all, and launching
17the next 50 years of inclusion; and
 
18    WHEREAS, The Unified Football Cup will take place July 17,
192018 through July 20, 2018 in which Special Olympics Unified
20Football teams representing every region of the world will come
21to Chicago for an inaugural global tournament, in partnership
22with the Chicago Fire Soccer Club and ESPN; and
 

 

 

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1    WHEREAS, The Eternal Flame of Hope Monument dedication in
2Chicago at the main entrance of the Museum Campus and Soldier
3Field will take place on July 20, 2018 and will include a
4ceremony on the 50th birthday of the Special Olympics
5dedicating a permanent monument to the organization and its
6athletes; and
 
7    WHEREAS, The Law Enforcement Torch Run will take place on
8July 20, 2018 and will include a ceremonial Law Enforcement
9Torch Run featuring hundreds of law enforcement officers and
10Special Olympics athletes from Chicago and the world; and
 
11    WHEREAS, The Global Day of Inclusion Festival and Concert
12will take place on July 21, 2018 in Chicago and will include
13athletes from the first Games in 1968 who will be joined by
14present day athletes to tell the Special Olympics Story; it
15will include a festival of activities bringing together the
16world's top musicians, athletes, artists, celebrities, global
17leaders, donors, and partners to celebrate and advance the
18Special Olympics' inclusion movement and "Choose to Include"
19message around the globe through attendance, marketing, and
20digital opportunities; and
 
21    WHEREAS, Each of the events for the 50th Anniversary will
22include goals of raising awareness, enhancing outreach,

 

 

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1support, and education, and, most importantly, engaging the
2next generation of individuals with and without disabilities
3who will carry the "Flame of Hope" for inclusive communities
4into the next 50 years; therefore, be it
 
5    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
6HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE
7CONCURRING HEREIN, that we fully support the 50th anniversary
8celebration of the Special Olympics and are encouraged to
9participate in the events surrounding the celebration; and be
10it further
 
11    RESOLVED, That we celebrate and acknowledge the
12accomplishments of Justice Anne Burke and others who have
13tirelessly dedicated themselves and their resources in
14furtherance of this important movement; and be it further
 
15    RESOLVED, That we congratulate all Special Olympics
16athletes, past and present, on their remarkable
17accomplishments on and off the field.