08/Oct/2009
Eunice Shriver Helped Start
Louisiana’s Special Olympics
Eunice
Kennedy Shriver who
died on Aug. 11, 2009 at the age of 88 is well remembered for her efforts
on behalf of people in
Louisiana
and throughout the world who must deal daily with developmental
challenges.
From
left Greg Gross, Eunice Shriver and Arlen Gross pose for a picture
during the opening of the Baton Rouge Camp Shriver in 2006.She made the world a better place according to Arlen Gross whose son Greg is a swimmer and longtime Special Olympian.
Gross explained that Shriver opened the first national games of the Special
Olympics over the summer of 1968 in
Chicago .
Her efforts were dedicated to her sister
Rosemary who was intellectually challenged.
Over the last 40 years Special Olympics has grown to include more than three
million athletes in over 150 countries worldwide.
“During the summer of 2006, in celebration of Shriver
' s
85th birthday,
Camp
Shriver , a camp that helped advance the Special
Olympics movement, was started in
Louisiana ,”
she said.
The camp is offered free to the campers and their families. It is run exclusively by volunteers and funded by donations from throughout the state and nation.
The camp is offered free to the campers and their families. It is run exclusively by volunteers and funded by donations from throughout the state and nation.
Gross has fond memories of crossing paths with Shriver on several occasions.
“We had a very special breakfast with Ms. Shriver at the opening of
Camp
Shriver
in
Baton Rouge
in August 2006,” she recalled.
“I was just
standing in line but Eunice pulled me out and led me to the serving table.
She wanted me to eat breakfast with her.”
Gross tells of being taken off guard by Shriver’s choice of a breakfast
companion that memorable morning.
“It
was such an honor just to be able to attend the breakfast,” she said.
“I was trying to act normal but I am sure my
body language gave me away.”
Gross also remembers meeting Shriver during the International Summer Special
Olympic Games when they were held in
Baton
Rouge in 1983.
“One time she talked with my son Greg at the Huey P. Long Pool on LSU’s
campus,” Gross said. “I tried to answer a question for him but she pushed me
away. She wanted to talk to Greg.”
With a smile for the memory Gross recalls “She was like that. She wanted to
visit with the athletes.”
Special Olympics Louisiana started in 1968 after 1
1
residents participated in the
first International Special Olympics.
Louisiana
Today
more than
12,000 intellectually
disabled children and adults in
Louisiana
participate annually in more than
100
local competitions.
Eunice Shriver will long be remembered for her
work on behalf of intellectually challenged citizens of the
Pelican
State
and people with disabilities throughout the world.
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