Atlanta To Celebrate EKS Week

Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founder of Special Olympics, to be remembered with a day of sports and inclusion

ATLANTA, Sept. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Saturday, September 24, 2011, Atlanta will participate in EKS Day, a worldwide celebration in memory of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founder of the Special Olympics movement and a leading international advocate for the rights of people with intellectual disabilities.  EKS Day is a global call challenging everyone to "Play Unified to Live Unified" because Mrs. Shriver taught us that on the playing field, we forget about our differences and recognize our mutual humanity.  Across the globe, people are demonstrating Eunice Kennedy Shriver's enduring vision by calling upon athletes, families and friends to come together in a day of inclusive sport and play.

In proclaiming EKS Day throughout the world Timothy Shriver, CEO and President of Special Olympics said, "Today, on the second annual global Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day, our movement comes together on playing fields all around the world and we invite everyone to join in by playing unified.  Just as my mother tackled injustice with sport, community and friendship, so too are we using these tools to spread a powerful message about the dignity that belongs to every person, regardless of her or his ability."  

In celebration of EKS and her message of unity throughout the week, Atlanta pro basketball player and Special Olympics Georgia (SOGA) honorary board member Marvin Williams will host "Strike the R-word" Thursday, Sept. 22. "The R-word is completely demeaning," Williams said. "It rejects and dehumanizes everyone, especially the many people with disabilities."

In addition to being a fan in the stands at Strike the R-word Thursday, EKS Day and Week will be celebrated with a number of sports-related activities involving both people with and without intellectual disabilities, SOGA encourages Atlanta residents:

• to join or learn more about a Unified Sports® team, or even starting one of your own! (Unified Sports brings together athletes with and without intellectual disabilities on the same playing field.)

• to volunteer with Special Olympics as a coach in your community. Click here for more information about volunteering.

• become a friend of Special Olympics Georgia — and inviting your friends to do the same. Our goal is to have one Facebook friend for every one of our more than 23,620 Special Olympics athletes!

Individuals and families be a fan at Strike the R-word Thursday, Sept. 22 at 300 Atlanta.  For more information, call 770-414-9390 or visit www.SpecialOlympicsGA.org

About Special Olympics
Special Olympics is an international organization that changes lives through the power of sport by encouraging and empowering people with intellectual disabilities, promoting acceptance for all, and fostering communities of understanding and respect worldwide. Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the Special Olympics movement has grown from a few hundred athletes to more than 3.7 million athletes in over 170 countries in all regions of the world, providing year-round sports training, athletic competition and other related programs.  Special Olympics now takes place every day, changing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities all over the world and in the community playgrounds and ball fields in every small neighborhood's backyard.  Special Olympics provides people with intellectual disabilities continuing opportunities to realize their potential, develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, and experience joy and friendship.

SOURCE Special Olympics Georgia