November is Special Olympics Month

To register as an athlete, visit www.specialolympics.ca
To volunteer, visit www.make2009special.ca

At a time when people with an intellectual disability were closeted away from public view, this visionary looked to change attitudes, foster acceptance, and make the world a better place. Inspired by his love for a brother who had an intellectual disability, Harry 'Red' Foster launched Special Olympics forty years ago, in 1969, in Toronto, Ontario.

This November, during Special Olympics Month, Canadians will be reminded of the legacy left by this great humanitarian, broadcaster and advertising executive.

"Mr. Foster was a visionary who worked tirelessly to establish Special Olympics in Canada, uniting people both on and off the field of play," said Deborah Bright, president and CEO of Special Olympics Canada.

Over four decades in Canada, and with the support of a vibrant network of more than 14,000 volunteers and trained coaches, Special Olympics has been enriching the lives of Canadians with an intellectual disability through sport, building more inclusive communities across the country.

In 1969, 1400 individuals with an intellectual disability gathered from across Canada, joining Foster in Toronto, Ontario, for the first national competition, a multi-day sporting event. Forty years later, the Special Olympics movement thrives, with more than 32,000 athletes registered in sport programs that operate every day of the week in hundreds of sport clubs across the county. From community playgrounds to soccer fields to ski hills, these athletes compete in 14 sports in summer and winter at the local, national and international level.

Over four decades, Special Olympics has also evolved to offer complementary initiatives, such as Healthy Athletes® , which offers free health screenings and information at provincial and national competitions, as well as year-round activity programs like Active Start®. By introducing sport to children ages two to six, Active Start® plays a critical role in the health and development of children by improving their physical fitness and motor skills.

"Just like Mr. Foster, we see potential and ability in Special Olympics athletes," says Bright. "We hope that many more Canadians will come to experience the authentic power of Special Olympics by registering as an athlete or as a volunteer during Special Olympics Month."

Tune in to TSN on Saturday, November 7, at 10 AM ET for the ninth annual Special Olympics broadcast, a celebration of 40 years of Special Olympics in Canada.