Eunice Kennedy Shriver Eunice Kennedy Shriver - Full length biography Rosemary Kennedy Eulogy - Eulogy given by Eunice Kenndy Shriver during funeral for her sister Rosemary, the inspiration for Special Olympics Eunice Kennedy Shriver's Speech at the Inaugural Special Olympics (1968) - Special Olympics World Summer Games at Soldier Field in Chicago  Eunice Kennedy Shriver's White House Remarks (July 2006) - Remarks made at the White House celebration honoring her 85th birthday and the success of the Special Olympics Campaign for Growth Initiative Eunice Kennedy Shriver's William E. Simon Award Remarks (April 2006) - Remarks made upon receiving the William E. Simon award. Eunice Kennedy Shriver's 2005 World Games Speech - Speech at the Closing Ceremonies of the 2005 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Japan Eunice Kennedy Shriver's 2003 World Games Speech - Speech at the Opening Ceremonies of the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Ireland Eunice Kennedy Shriver's 1999 World Games Speech - Speech at the Opening Ceremonies of the 1999 Special Olympics World Summer Games in North Carolina All photos below are ©Special Olympics. Please access and print the photo license before using any photos. Photo License EKS at 2007 WG (4.5MB jpg) Special Olympics Founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver with a Special Olympics China gymnast at the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai, China. EKS at 1968 Games (306K jpg) The first Special Olympics International Games were held at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. EKS Opening 1968 Games At the first Special Olympics International Games held in 1968 at Chicago’s Soldier Field, Eunice Kennedy Shriver announced the founding of Special Olympics. EKS at White House 2006 (1.2MB jpg) In July 2006, U.S. President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush hosted a dinner at the White House to celebrate “The Spirit of Special Olympics” and commemorate Special Olympics’ successful five-year campaign to grow from 1 million to 2 million athletes worldwide. EKS at Young Athletes (3.5MB jpg) Special Olympics Founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver (center) celebrates the debut of Special Olympics Young Athletes™, a new initiative that introduces children with intellectual disabilities and their families to the world of Special Olympics before they reach the age of 8 and become eligible to train and compete in Special Olympics events. EKS and TPS (4MB jpg) Special Olympics Founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver and Special Olympics Chairman Timothy Shriver Mrs. Shriver receiving the Medal of Freedom from Ronald Reagan(2MB jpg) On 26 March 1984, Eunice Kennedy Shriver received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States' highest civilian award, from President Ronald Reagan for her work "on behalf of America's least powerful people," people with intellectual disabilities. Saturday Evening Post article "Hope for Retarded Children"  [PDF 1.5M] In September 1962, the "Saturday Evening Post" published an article by Eunice Kennedy Shriver entitled "Hope for Retarded Children." The article discussed Rosemary Kennedy's intellectual disability and how Shriver and her family were moved to work to improve the lives of people with intellectual disabilities.