Special Olympics Australia

On 15 February 1988, during the Winter Olympics in Calgary, Juan Antonio Samaranch, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) signed an agreement with Special Olympics recognising the importance of the organisation and endorsing the use of the word Olympics in the organisation name. This makes Special Olympics the only organisation to use the word Olympics.

On this historic agreement, Sargent Shriver said, “Special Olympics has become the world’s largest amateur sports organisation by extolling the value of sports and by using sport to reveal the intrinsic merit and worth of every man and woman. The endorsement of Special Olympics by the IOC is extraordinary and encouraging approval for our organisation and our philosophy and a tribute to Special Olympics athletes around the world.”

Special Olympics continues to work with the IOC and leading sports organisations to improve the world through the power of sport.

Click here to download the Protocol of Agreement.