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CC 97 2011
Numismatic cover
BU
Numismatic cover
Greece · XIII Special Olympics Athens 2011
Mintage5,000
Issue price€4.00
Issue date30 May 2011
PackagingNumismatic cover
Edge letteringΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΔΗΜΟΚΡΑΤΙΑ + ★
Issue occasion
The coin commemorates the XIII Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens in 2011. The design depicts the emblem of the Games: a radiant sun as the source of life, an olive branch as a symbol of outstanding achievement, and a spiral shape at the centre of the sun as a sign of the strength of the participating athletes. The emblem is surrounded by the inscriptions “XIII Special Olympics W.S.G. Athens 2011” and “Ελληνικη Δημοκρατια”.
The design
The inner part of the coin depicts the emblem of the Games—a radiant sun, the source of life, underscoring the special achievement and strength of the athlete participating in the Games. The special achievement is symbolized by the olive branch, and the strength by the spiral shape in the centre of the sun.
Around the emblem, the occasion “XIII Special Olympics W.S.G. Athens 2011” and the issuing country “Ελληνικη Δημοκρατια” are inscribed. The mintmark is placed between the two inscriptions.
The outer ring of the coin depicts the twelve stars of the European flag.
Around the emblem, the occasion “XIII Special Olympics W.S.G. Athens 2011” and the issuing country “Ελληνικη Δημοκρατια” are inscribed. The mintmark is placed between the two inscriptions.
The outer ring of the coin depicts the twelve stars of the European flag.
Background on the topic
Special Olympics is an international sports movement for people with intellectual disabilities. It differs from the Paralympics, in which athletes with different disabilities compete in performance-based classifications. At Special Olympics, participants within a sport are divided into competition groups that are as evenly matched as possible according to age, gender and ability. This is intended to enable people with very different abilities to take part in competitions.
The movement goes back to Eunice Kennedy Shriver, a sister of US President John F. Kennedy. In the 1960s, she organised sports activities for people with intellectual disabilities and campaigned against their social exclusion at the time. The first international Special Olympics Summer Games took place in Chicago in 1968. This developed into an organisation that, in addition to World Games, organises national and regional competitions as well as training and health programmes.
The 2011 Games were held in Athens from 25 June to 4 July. Around 7,000 athletes from approximately 180 countries competed in 22 sports. The programme included athletics, swimming, football, basketball, gymnastics, judo and sailing, among others. The competitions took place at several sports venues in the Athens area, including facilities that had already been used for the 2004 Olympic Games. The sports programme was supplemented by medical examination and consultation services for participants.
For Greece, the event established a connection between its role as host of international sporting events and the cause of social inclusion. The issue of a circulating commemorative coin made the event visible throughout the euro area beyond the actual duration of the Games. At the same time, the occasion was in keeping with the Greek tradition of commemorating international sporting events and their social background on coins.
The movement goes back to Eunice Kennedy Shriver, a sister of US President John F. Kennedy. In the 1960s, she organised sports activities for people with intellectual disabilities and campaigned against their social exclusion at the time. The first international Special Olympics Summer Games took place in Chicago in 1968. This developed into an organisation that, in addition to World Games, organises national and regional competitions as well as training and health programmes.
The 2011 Games were held in Athens from 25 June to 4 July. Around 7,000 athletes from approximately 180 countries competed in 22 sports. The programme included athletics, swimming, football, basketball, gymnastics, judo and sailing, among others. The competitions took place at several sports venues in the Athens area, including facilities that had already been used for the 2004 Olympic Games. The sports programme was supplemented by medical examination and consultation services for participants.
For Greece, the event established a connection between its role as host of international sporting events and the cause of social inclusion. The issue of a circulating commemorative coin made the event visible throughout the euro area beyond the actual duration of the Games. At the same time, the occasion was in keeping with the Greek tradition of commemorating international sporting events and their social background on coins.
Interesting Facts
Publisher: EΛTA (Greek Post, Athens)