By Pitts H.C.R. No. 53 75R4083 WMS-D HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, Throughout its history the Special Olympics has made 1-2 significant contributions to the physical, social, and 1-3 psychological development of people with mental retardation by 1-4 providing them with an avenue for success through athletic 1-5 competition; and 1-6 WHEREAS, Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the First 1-7 International Special Olympics Games were held at Soldier Field in 1-8 Chicago in July of that year with athletes from 26 states and 1-9 Canada participating in track and field, floor hockey, and aquatic 1-10 events; and 1-11 WHEREAS, Special Olympics has experienced phenomenal growth 1-12 since its inception 29 years ago, and today the organization boasts 1-13 more than one million participating athletes in nearly 150 1-14 countries; each year, in excess of 15,000 games, meets, and 1-15 tournaments are held in both summer and winter sports; and 1-16 WHEREAS, The State of Texas is home to 22,000 Special 1-17 Olympians, and the volunteers and donors who contribute their time, 1-18 talents, and resources to Texas Special Olympics are determined to 1-19 make the organization one of the premier providers of Special 1-20 Olympics training and competition in the world; and 1-21 WHEREAS, By remaining steadfast in their dedication to the 1-22 Special Olympics oath, "Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be 1-23 brave in the attempt.", competitors in Special Olympics avail 1-24 themselves of the opportunities not only to perform to the best of 2-1 their abilities in their athletic endeavors but also to reach for 2-2 new goals and to make strides in life they might otherwise never 2-3 have thought possible; and 2-4 WHEREAS, The exceptional character and determination of the 2-5 young men and women from across the globe who participate in the 2-6 Special Olympics are a source of pride and inspiration to all who 2-7 know them, and their efforts, combined with those of the many 2-8 volunteers and organizers who work for that exceptional 2-9 organization, are indeed worthy of special legislative recognition 2-10 at this time; now, therefore, be it 2-11 RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas 2-12 hereby designate May 23, 1997, the opening day of the Summer Games, 2-13 as Special Olympics Day in Texas and encourage all Texans to learn 2-14 more about this vital organization.