[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 28 (Monday, July 17, 2006)]
[Pages 1305-1306]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks at a Dinner Honoring the Special Olympics

July 10, 2006

    Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming--Mrs. Shriver and Special 
Olympics athletes, friends and family. Mr. President--the President of 
Iceland has joined us--proud you're here, President Grimsson. And First 
Lady of Panama, First Lady Torrijos, is with us as well. We've got 
Members of the Congress and Members of the Senate. Laura and I are glad 
you all are here. Welcome to this special occasion.
    We're here to celebrate the Special Olympics and to honor a woman 
who made them possible--Eunice Kennedy Shriver. And we're here to 
celebrate her birthday. [Laughter]
    In a moment we'll hear from this woman who has made it her life's 
work to create opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities. 
She founded the Special Olympics in 1968 to get people with intellectual 
disabilities the chance to develop physical fitness, to create 
friendships, and experience the joy of sports competition and 
achievement. Today, the Special Olympics includes more than 2.25 million 
athletes in 150 countries. The games have become a source of unity and 
excitement for its participants. They've helped raise awareness of the 
challenges facing those with intellectual disabilities.
    America upholds the values of every person and the possibilities of 
every life. And the Special Olympics are an example of America at its 
best. We share with the entire

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world the spirit of joy and kindness that the Special Olympics brings.
    If you ever had any doubt about how much good one person can do, 
look no further than this kind and gracious lady. On this special 
occasion, I ask you to join me in a toast to the Special Olympics and to 
Eunice Kennedy Shriver and to her contributions to our Nation--past, 
present, and future. God bless.

Note: The President spoke at 7:40 p.m. in the East Room at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founder 
and honorary chairman, Special Olympics; President Olafur Grimsson of 
Iceland; and Vivian Fernandez de Torrijos, wife of President Martin 
Torrijos Espino of Panama.