OUR HISTORY

About Us
 
Special Olympics-Westmoreland County first sent athletes to competition in May of 1969, attending a track and field meet held at Pitt Stadium in Pittsburgh.  Thirty-five years later, nearly 600 athletes compete in sports training and competitions on the county, regional and state levels.  Through cooperation with the private and business communities, our growth has been steady.  Not only in the number of athletes participating and sports offered but also in the number of volunteers who participate as well as the number of business organizations who contribute to ensure that our future will be a bright one.
 

 
Eunice Kennedy Shriver founded Special Olympics in 1968 with the first International Games.  One thousand athletes from 26 states and Canada competed in track and field, swimming, and floor hockey.  The growth of Special Olympics has been overwhelming -- more than one million athletes are now training and competing from more than 150 countries and 54 U.S. chapters.  These athletes are aided by 500,000 volunteers and 250,000 coaches.
   
The athletes and coaches get ready to tee it up.
   
Special Olympics Pennsylvania became an official chapter of Special Olympics in 1970 after hosting a track and field event for 135 participants.  In Pennsylvania, 53 local programs provide competition for over 25,000 athletes in more than 20 sports.
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Growth     Growth     Growth

During our history, Special Olympics Westmoreland County has seen significant growth over the years, both in the number of athletes and volunteers participating.

Some examples of how our events have grown.
 
Bowling
Year Athletes Volunteers
1976 70 30
2004 321 165
Swimming
Year Athletes Volunteers
1974 106 30
2004 130 90
Track and Field
Year Athletes Volunteers
1969 37 12
2004 325 460
 

Through community support, we are reaching more eligible county residents, giving them the opportunity to participate in sports training and competitions.  We are also giving more people the chance to get involved in the community in which they live by becoming volunteers and coaches.

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