Special Olympics in Birthplace of Games

Stevie Wonder

Special Olympics' World Summer Games 2011 began June 25 in Athens, Greece, at the site of the 1896 Olympic Games—the first of the modern era. The opening ceremony in Panathenaic Stadium will feature performances by music legends Stevie Wonder and Vanessa Williams, and a speech by Tim Shriver. The two-week event is expected to be one of the largest of its kind this year, and has attracted 7,000 athletes from more than 180 countries, including the U.S., Japan, Haiti, Syria, Egypt, Libya, Pakistan and Morocco. Competitors will vie for medals and bragging rights in 22 sports.

This is the first Special Olympics World Games since founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver passed away. All of the Shriver children are expected to be in Greece for the occasion, along with such celebrity supporters as Brooklyn Decker, Nadia Comenici, Michelle Kwan, Maria Menounos and many more.

athens2011.org

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