| |
|
|
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 335
|
|
|
WHEREAS, Over the course of half a century, Special |
|
|
Olympics Texas has enriched countless lives by introducing |
|
|
individuals with intellectual disabilities to the transformative |
|
|
experience of competing in sports; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The Special Olympics organization was founded in |
|
|
1963 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, who opened a summer day camp to |
|
|
provide opportunities for children and adults with intellectual |
|
|
disabilities to explore a variety of sports and physical |
|
|
activities; in June 1969, the Texas branch of Special Olympics was |
|
|
established by the association today known as the Arc of Texas, and |
|
|
its first summer games took place at Paul Tyson Stadium in Waco, |
|
|
with 10 track and field events and 350 athletes; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, As participation grew, Special Olympics Texas |
|
|
expanded its competition opportunities; its first-ever winter |
|
|
games were held in Houston in January 1991, and in 2005, Texas was |
|
|
among the states selected to run a pilot program for Young |
|
|
Athletes, a sports play program for children between the ages of |
|
|
two and seven; in June 2019, the organization is observing the |
|
|
50th anniversary of its founding; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Today, Special Olympics Texas hosts more than 300 |
|
|
events in 22 sports each year, and it has been proud to send |
|
|
delegates to represent Texas and the United States at |
|
|
international games in Greece, Ireland, Japan, China, and other |
|
|
countries; it currently serves more than 58,000 athletes and |
|
|
relies on the vital contributions of over 40,000 volunteers; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Studies have attested to the myriad benefits of |
|
|
takingpartintheSpecialOlympics,whichincludeimprovements |
|
|
in social competence and adaptive skills, work performance, |
|
|
self-esteem, independence, and physical fitness; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, Special Olympics Texas has helped make our state a |
|
|
place where people of all ages and abilities can enjoy a better |
|
|
quality of life through sports training, competition, and |
|
|
volunteer participation, and its outstanding record of service |
|
|
truly merits wide acclaim; now, therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 86th |
|
|
Legislature, hereby honor Special Olympics Texas and express |
|
|
thanks to the athletes, coaches, and volunteers who have made the |
|
|
organization the success story that it is today; and, be |
|
|
it further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be |
|
|
prepared for Special Olympics Texas as an expression of high |
|
|
regard by the Texas Senate. |
|
|
Hancock |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Buckingham |
Kolkhorst |
Rodríguez |
|
|
|
| Campbell |
Lucio |
Schwertner |
|
|
|
| Creighton |
Menéndez |
Seliger |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Patrick, President of the Senate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
________________________________ |
|
|
|
President of the Senate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I hereby certify that the |
|
|
|
above Resolution was adopted by |
|
|
|
the Senate on March 12, 2019. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
________________________________ |
|
|
|
Secretary of the Senate |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
________________________________ |
|
|
|
Member, Texas Senate |