Countdown to Special Olympics 50th Anniversary in Chicago: The Competition, Music and Inclusion You Need to Know About

CHICAGO, July 3, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Starting July 17 and running through July 21, Special Olympics International will celebrate its 50^th Anniversary in Chicago, highlighting 50 years of joy, courage, empowerment and progress. The Chicago celebration kicks off a year-long anniversary celebration. As part of the celebration, the organization will be challenging people across the globe to join our Revolution is Inclusion campaign—an all-out effort, led by Special Olympics athletes, to end discrimination against people with intellectual disabilities (ID) and deliver a fully inclusive world.

Hosted in Chicago, birthplace and home of the first Special Olympics Summer Games, the 50^th Anniversary is open to all and will feature marquee events including:

July 17-20: Special Olympics Unified Cup presented by TOYOTA at CIBC Fire Pitch and TOYOTA Park 

An inaugural soccer invitational tournament featuring 24 global Unified teams (16 male and eight female teams), each including players with and without intellectual disabilities playing alongside each other.

Preliminary matches will take place July 17-19 at the CIBC Fire Pitch (3626 North Talman Ave, Chicago) starting at 8 a.m. CT, with final matches taking place July 20 at TOYOTA Park (7000 Harlem Ave, Bridgeview, IL) starting at 4 p.m. CT with the celebrity match. The final matches, beginning at 5 p.m. CT, will be broadcast live on ESPN2. Attendance is free, and more information can be found here.

July 20: Commemorative Law Enforcement Torch Run

A ceremonial Law Enforcement Torch Run will feature hundreds of law enforcement officers and Special Olympics athletes from around Chicago and the world. This four-mile run will take place along Chicago's lakefront and conclude with the lighting of the Eternal Flame of Hope outside of Soldier Field. The run will start at 11 a.m. CT at 39th Street along the lake shore path. More information can be found here.

July 20: Eternal Flame of Hope Lighting at McFetridge Park

A permanent, 30-foot monument honoring the birth of Special Olympics at Soldier Field in 1968 will be lit at a dedication ceremony. The monument will feature a landscaped plaza and donor recognition wall, as well as the spectacular sculpture and eternal flame, symbolizing the eternal hope Special Olympics provides to athletes and their families, and in turn, the eternal hope Special Olympics athletes provide the world. World-renowned artist, Richard Hunt, is the designer of the sculpture. Following the Law Enforcement Torch Run, the Eternal Flame of Hope Lighting will begin at approximately 12 p.m. CT at the Museum Campus between Soldier Field and the Field Museum. More information about the Eternal Flame of Hope and how to donate can be found here.

July 21: Global Day of Inclusion at Soldier Field

The Global Day of Inclusion is a massive celebration and family-friendly festival that will encourage all people to make their cities more inclusive. Day of Inclusion events include sports activities, games, exhibits, delicious food and live entertainment. The free event will begin at 1 p.m. CT at Soldier Field and is open to the public. More information can be found here.

July 21, evening: 50th Anniversary Celebration Concert at Northerly Island

Capping off the 50^th Anniversary festivities, Chance The Rapper will headline the 50th Anniversary Celebration Concert also featuring Usher, Smokey Robinson, Jason Mraz, O.A.R., Francis and the Lights, Daya and more. The 50^th Anniversary Celebration Concert will be produced by Chance The Rapper's production company, Social Function Productions. Dedicated to empowerment and inclusion, the concert begins at 5:30 pm CT. More information and tickets can be found here.

Illuminating the Inclusion Revolution  

Finally, in addition to the Chicago-based anniversary events, on July 20, more than 70 major landmarks, stadiums and iconic buildings around the world will turn red as part of Light Up for Inclusion, a global display of unity representing the dawn of the Inclusion Revolution.

For a complete list 50^th Anniversary events, click here.

Notes to editors

Media must register: Media should register by clicking on this link. When prompted, enter the join code: 50Media. For more information, or if you'd like to arrange an interview prior to the start of the 50^th Anniversary celebration, please contact Eric Benderoff.

About Special Olympics

Special Olympics is a global inclusion movement using sport, health, education and leadership programs every day around the world to end discrimination against and empower people with intellectual disabilities. Founded in 1968, and celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year, the Special Olympics movement has grown to more than 5 million athletes and Unified partners in more than 170 countries. With the support of more than 1 million coaches and volunteers, Special Olympics delivers 32 Olympic-type sports and over 108,000 games and competitions throughout the year. Special Olympics is supported by individuals, foundations and partners, including the Christmas Records Trust, the Law Enforcement Torch Run® for Special Olympics, The Coca-Cola Company, United Airlines, The Walt Disney Company and ESPN, Microsoft, Lions Clubs International, Bank of America, Essilor Vision Foundation, the Golisano Foundation, Safilo Group, and TOYOTA. Click here for a full list of partners. Engage with us on: Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and our blog on Medium. Learn more at www.SpecialOlympics.org.

About Unified Sports

Special Olympics Unified Sports combine athletes – with and without intellectual disabilities – as teammates to showcase the power of Special Olympics' Unified Sports®, which helps unite communities and foster an environment of acceptance and inclusion. More than a million people worldwide take part in Special Olympics Unified Sports® competitions, helping to break down stereotypes about people with intellectual disabilities. ESPN is the global presenting sponsor and official media sponsor of Special Olympics Unified Sports®.

Contact:
Mark Daley
Special Olympics International
P: (202) 824-0389
[email protected]

Eric Benderoff
Burson-Marsteller
P: (312) 596-3477
[email protected]

SOURCE Special Olympics International