Special Olympics Illinois athletes, coaches, volunteers, and parents from around the state headed to a snowy Galena, Illinois, February 5 - 7, 2008, for the 28th Annual Winter Games.

Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush representatives were on hand as Corporate Partners of Special Olympics to observe and witness firsthand the spirit, competition, and sense of family and community at these Illinois Special Olympics Winter Games.

View photos from Special Olympics 2008 Winter Games.

The town of Galena, Illinois, opened their doors and arms to more than 400 athletes, 200 coaches, 100 family members, and over 350 volunteers. Despite a winter storm that dumped over 10 inches of snow on the hills and roads around Galena—the athletes still demonstrated their hard work competing in Alpine Skiing, Cross Country Skiing, Speed Skating, Figure Skating, and Snow Shoeing. The fact that these athletes, coaches, and volunteers braved the cold and the snow to compete supports the Special Olympics Athlete Oath often heard at these competitions: "Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt."

The 2008 Winter Games kick off the 40th Anniversary Celebration of the inception of Special Olympics. On July 20, 1968, the first Special Olympics competition was held at Soldier Field, Chicago. One thousand athletes from the United States and Canada participated in athletics (track and field) and aquatics events. Mayor Richard J. Daley, the Chicago Park District and Eunice Kennedy Shriver, representing the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation, welcomed athletes to Chicago.

The theme created for the 40th Anniversary "Dream it, Dare It, Do It," is about what the athletes themselves have done with the platform provided by Special Olympics. They are the ones who dreamed of training and competing on an even playing field, for the purpose of demonstrating their abilities, their passion, and their personalities. They are the ones who have dared society to say "Look at me, I am an individual that can achieve and contribute and I deserve your respect."

In celebration of the Special Olympics Anniversary, Special Olympics Illinois is hosting the inaugural Inspire Greatness Gala on Saturday, July 19, 2008, at Chicago Hilton & Towers. Proceeds from the event will support Special Olympics Illinois programming. The event includes cocktails, dinner, and dancing and a signature sports-themed silent and live auction. For more information, please call Kathy McLaughlin at 773-278-5492 or kmclaughlin@soill.org.

Today, there are Special Olympics programs in more than 150 countries. Illinois grew from one area program in 1968 to the 17 area programs of today, offering year-round training and competition in 19 sports for more than 20,000 Illinois Special Olympics athletes. The Special Olympics mission is to provide year-round training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympic athletes and community. The Special Olympics World Winter Games are held every four years: the 2005 World Winter Games were held in Nagano, Japan and the 2009 World Winter Games will be held in Boise, Idaho.

For more information, visit the Illinois Special Olympics website at www.soill.org.