Special Olympics has been a vital part of Civitan Services ever since former Executive Director Jim Griffin started the first team of Civitan Services Olympians. Mr. Griffin worked hard on both the local and state level to promote physical fitness and athletic competition.
Every year Civitan Services Olympians travel across the state to compete in regional and state games in a variety of sports. Among the most popular events for our athletes are powerlifting, bocce, bowling, track and field and basketball although our Olympians have participated in almost every available sport.
Eunice Kennedy Shriver organized the first Special Olympic games in 1968 and the games found their way to Arkansas in 1970. Today Civitan Services competes as a part of Area 10 along with other groups from Saline, Clark, Garland, Hot Springs, Montgomery and Pike counties.
In the summer of 2011, Civitan Services Special Olympian John Yates was chosen to be a member of Team USA's powerlifting squad. He traveled to California and Boston to train with his new coaches and teammates before flying to Athens, Greece to compete in the Special Olympics World Summer Games. John brought home four medals: Gold for deadlift, Silver for squats, Silver for bench press and Silver for men's overall. Way to go John!
Learn more about Special Olympics on a National and International level here.
