Milestones
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1978
Special Olympics United Kingdom founded by Chris Maloney MBE as part of the international Special Olympics movement. Chris had been teaching swimming to people with learning disabilities since the early 60s. After reading a book entitled, Times to Remember by Rose Kennedy (mother of JFK and Eunice Shriver) in 1976, Chris sent a letter about his work to Rose Kennedy who in turn passed this to her daughter Eunice. With help from Mrs Shriver, the late Sir Hugh Fraser and Sir Eldon Griffiths (the then Minster for Sport) were asked to support the founding of Special Olympics in the UK..and the rest is history !
Coca-Cola GB sign up as a founding sponsor for the Charity in the UK.
1980-1
Special Olympics issues the first Sports Skills Guides and Coaching Certification Guides
1982
SOGB hosts its first National Summer Games attended by
800 athletes in Knowsley, Liverpool. The Games are opened by HRH Princess Alexandra.
1983
SOGB send its first team to a World Games - 6 th Special Olympics World Summer Games at Baton Rouge, Louisianna, USA. Attended by 4,000 athletes from across the globe.
1984
1st European Games are held in Belgium. King & Queen of Belgium open the Games.
Chatsworth House fundraising event Grand Ball hosted by SOGB Chairman Sir Eldon Griffiths (and ex Minister for Sport) raises £250K enabling SOGB to appoint its first full time National Director and part time administrator. Based out of a small funded office in Liverpool.
1985
2nd European Games are hosted in Dublin. GB sends 250 strong team one of the largest in Europe. 2,500 athletes attend from across Europe.
1986
2nd GB National Summer Games Brighton. 900 athletes in attendance.
1987
7 th Special Olympics World Games in South Bend Indiana. 4,500 from 70 countries. GB sends a team of 100.
1988
On February 15 th 1988, the International Olympic Committee and Special Olympics Inc signed a protocol agreement in which the IOC grants its official recognition to Special Olympics as the third member of the Olympic movement. It agrees that Special Olympics may use the wording 'Olympics' in its title - the only organization in the world allowed to do so. It is not allowed to use any Olympic flag, the five rings, emblem or motto.
1989
3rd GB National Summer Games in Leicester. 1,100 athletes in attendance.
1990
SOGB plays host to the 3 rd European Games - held in Strathclyde, 31 countries, 2200 athletes attend the event. Adopt an Athlete Scheme is launched and the International Torch Run runs 6500k from Athens to Glasgow. Opened by HRH Duke of Edinburgh.
1 st SOGB National Conference.
Winter Sports Programme launched for GB.
Special Olympics hybrid tea rose, named "Winners All" is commissioned and launched by British Olympic athlete Tessa Sanderson at the Chelsea Flower Show in May 1990.
Olympus Sports agree to a full time secondment of a staff member, Derek Payne, on a three year term to help with PR and Marketing initiatives. Over the three years, 90-93 Olympus help raise over £400,000.
1991
Special Olympics International appoint a full time Director General in Europe (Former Great Britain Olympic Athlete, Paul Anderson) to help support the development of the Special Olympics movement across Europe.
Between 1991-1994 Special Olympics movement in Europe doubles in number of programmes running Special Olympics programmes.
8 th Special Olympics World Summer Games held in St Paul, Minneapolis. 6,000 athletes from more than 60 countries and 51 states participate making the event the largest sports event anywhere in the world in 1991. GB team of 118 competed at the event. GB team return with 54 gold, 42 silver and 24 bronze medals.
1 st GB National Winter Games held at Aviemore, Scotland. Attended by Sporting Hero, Frank Bruno.
1992
GB team attend Spain National Games (Barcelona) which preceed the Olympic and Paralympic games
National qualifying competitions in over 6 sports take place throughout the year in the lead up to National Summer Games in Sheffield.
1993
4 th GB National Summer Games Sheffield. 1,600 athletes in attendance.
SOGB attend the first World Winter Games to be outside the USA and is the first time GB send a team to this event. 5 th World Winter Games in Schladming, Austria .
1994
SOGB appoint new National Director, Paul Anderson (Ex-Director General of Europe) to oversee a new phase of development for the organisation bringing with him from Europe his PA, Karen Bunton.
The GB National Office relocates to offices in Central London provided by Mencap.
SOGB is delighted when Leagas Delaney agree to become official pro bono Advertising Agency.
1995
9th Special Olympics World Summer Games, Connecticut. GB sends a team of 107 athletes returning with 173 medals! Including 2 world Champions, Susie Pipes and Julian Jeffery.
Otis, Coca-Cola and the IPE support SOGB in entering a float to the Lord Mayors Show
Special Olympics global sponsors, Otis Lifts, sign up as a SOGB sponsor and provide a fully funded office to house SOGB National Office.
SOGB first advertisement featuring athlete, Susie Pipes is released and shown in Canon cinemas across the country prior to the new Batman movie.
1996
A new Board of Directors is appointed at SOGB. New Chairman, Bob McCulloch (then Managing Director of adidas UK) leads a full review of the programme and its needs.
The first National Development Officer is appointed for SOGB - Andy Heffer.
Sailing is introduced to the SOGB sports programme
2 nd National Winter Games are hosted in Abernethy, Scotland. 40 athletes compete in Alpine Skiing.
1 st National Gymnastics Coaching Conference held at Lilleshall NSC.
1 st National Conference hosted in Portsmouth and attended by over 100 delegates.
1997
6 th World Winter Games hosted in Toronto, Canada. Team GB of 12 athletes return 7 Gold, 9 Silver and 7 Bronze medals in Alpine Skiing.
5 th GB National Summer Games are held in Portsmouth. Opened by the then Sports Minster, Tony Banks. Sailing and Golf are promoted as demonstration sports. Southern Train is named Special Olympics and officially unveiled by Daley Thompson.
2000 athletes from across GB and specially invited teams from Europe attend the week long event.
Sainsbury's support the Torch Run and £800,000 is raised for Special Olympics GB Development Fund. Grant System is launched where groups and regions can apply for funds to help develop their local programme.
Golf is introduced to the SOGB sports programme.
1998
SOGB 20 th Anniversary celebrations hosted at House of Commons and attended by athletes and special guests including Norman Wisdom and Dave Prowse.
20th anniversary National Conference attended by 180 delegates held at Forest of Arden Hotel, Birmingham.
A second Regional Development Officer, Wendy Duke is appointed to help support the National Sports Development.
1999
10 th World Summer Games North Carolina, USA. GB team of 205 the largest delegation outside the USA attend. A special send off reception is hosted by the American Ambassador at the US Embassy London and attended by Margaret Thatcher.
2000
The first European Games since 1990 are staged in Groenigen . Netherlands.
Paul Anderson retires as CEO and National Director of SOGB.
2001
7th World Winter Games. Anchorage, Alaska.
6th GB National Summer Games held in Cardiff, Wales.
2002
New Chairman of the Board, Lady Sandra Sorrell appointed.
2003
Special drinks reception is hosted by Gordon Brown at 11 Downing Street followed by a private fundraising dinner at the Foreign Office which raises £100K.
11th World Summer Games - Dublin, Ireland. First time the event is held outside of the USA. 7000 from 169 countries participate. Opened by Nelson Mandela and attended by the Kennedy Family, Muhammed Ali, U2, The Corrs, Colin Farrell and the world's media.
BBC Grandstand and Sky cover Team GB attendance.
2004
Lawrie McMenemy MBE is appointed new chairman of Special Olympics Great Britain
Chris Hooper is announced as SOGB's new National Director.
2005
8th World Winter Games. Nagano. Japan
7th GB National Summer Games hosted in the City of Glasgow.
Special Olympics UK changed its name to Special Olympics Great Britain in 2000 to reflect that it does not cover Northern Ireland which is part of Special Olympics Ireland.
2006
The first Kayaking Regatta is held in Nottingham
Inaugural British Learning Disability Swimming Championship held alongside Mencap Sport and DSISO hosted in Sheffield – 150 swimmers from across the country attend
Special Olympics GB & Mencap sign a Memorandum of Understanding. The two organizations will work very closely to seek opportunities for people with learning disabilities to maximize their potential and be respected and supported in pursuit of their goals.
The first European Youth Games are hosted in Rome – GB send a team of 44 who compete against 1400 athletes from across the region and return with 77 medals. GB athlete and police officer are selected to form part of the Final Leg Law Enforcement Torch Run and are part of the team who accompany the Flame of Hope into the Opening Ceremony.
Special Olympics GB long time volunteer, Miss Val Hanover wins the Unsung Hero Award at the BBS Sports Personality of the Year Awards.
2007
12th Special Olympics World Summer Games -Shanghai, China. 159 strong GB athletes returned home with a total of 224 medals.
Karen Wallin is announced as SOGB's new Chief Operating Officer
National Grid becomes the first-ever Official Partner of Special Olympics Great Britain