1997 Special Olympics World Winter Games

Remarks: 1997 World Games

1997 Special Olympics World Winter Games

Opening Ceremonies

Eunice Kennedy Shriver

Skydome, Toronto, Ontario

Welcome to this spirited, magnificent land of Canada that chose to host the 1997 Special Olympics World Winter Games. Thank you, all the citizens of Canada, for honoring the Special Olympics athletes with the largest Winter Games in the history of sport.

Special Olympics is a world-wide program providing sports training and competition for people with a mental handicap.

In Canada over 20,000 athletes with a mental handicap participate in training and competition organized by eleven provincial and territorial Chapters, coordinated by a national office and sustained by the efforts of over 6,000 registered volunteers and approximately 60 staff members across the country.