Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels has issued a proclamation designating this week, May 31 - June 7, as Special Olympics Week in Indiana. This proclamation recognizes the founding of Special Olympics Indiana, on June 6, 1969, and the 40th anniversary celebration that is taking place in honor of this momentous occasion.

Special Olympics Week will take place in conjunction with the largest Special Olympics event in Indiana each year, the annual Special Olympics Indiana Summer Games. As Special Olympics Indiana's 40th Annual Summer Games, the 2009 event is expected to draw one of the largest Special Olympics Indiana crowds todate to Terre Haute for three days of state-level competition in track and field, aquatics, bocce, bowling, cycling, horseshoes and volleyball.

"Special Olympics was founded during a time when people with intellectual disabilities were ignored," said Michael Furnish, President / CEO of Special Olympics Indiana. "Whether they were placed in institutions or kept at home as the silent sibling, they were not recognized as people capable of accomplishment who could share their skills and talents with the community. This proclamation celebrates that Special Olympics is 40 years young and now has nearly 10,000 tremendous athletes who have shown the world what they can achieve."

The weekend of June 5- 7, more than 2,700 Special Olympics athletes will be competing, cheered on by nearly 2,000 volunteers and hundreds of spectators. Participants from 69 of Special Olympics Indiana's 78 county delegations will attend this year's Games, up from 66 in 2008.

In addition to the standard competition and activities offered each year, a number of events have been added to the schedule in honor of the 40th mark to honor the past 40 years of Special Olympics tradition in Indiana.