| 1968-69 |
Bayonne Recreation Department and Johnstone Training Center represent NJ
at the Eastern Regional Special Olympics at the University of Maryland. |
| 1969-70 |
Walter Johnson and Bessie Perlman are appointed Co-State Directors.
Johnstone Training Center hosts first state meet. NJ attends
International Games in Chicago. Swimming is introduced as an official sport. |
| 1970-71 |
State meet hosted by Johnstone Training Center. New Jersey Department of
Community Affairs and Education endorses the Special Olympics. Three Area
programs are certified. |
| 1971-72 |
State meet hosted by Monmouth College. Seventy Olympians repesent New
Jersey at the Los Angeles International Games. |
| 1972-73 |
Natalie Lawler Danbury appointed State Director. Bowling introduced as an
official sport. Eight Area programs are certified. |
| 1973-74 |
State meet held at Fort Dix. Introduction of basketball as an official
sport. |
| 1974-75 |
Tim Sullivan appointed State Director. McGuire Air Force Base hosts State
Games attended by Eunice Kennedy Shriver. Seventy-five Olympians represent New
Jersey in the International Games at Central Michigan University. |
| 1975-76 |
First overnight State Games hosted by Rutgers University. State
tournaments sponsored in swimming, basketball, bowling and ice skating. |
| 1976-77 |
Terry Sullivan appointed State Director. Fifty Olympians represent
New
Jersey at Winter Special Olympics in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. |
| 1977-78 |
First New Jersey Winter Games held at Great Gorge. The national soccer
skills tournament is hosted by New Jersey at Fairleigh Dickinson University.
Nine Area programs are certified. |
| 1979-80 |
Carol C. Hjort appointed as first paid Executive Director. Montclair State College
becomes the headquarters for New Jersey Special Olympics. First equestrian
event is held. |
| 1981-82 |
Winter and Summer Games expand to three days. New Brunswick becomes the
new headquarters. |
| 1982-83 |
Seventy-five athletes represent New Jersey Special Olympics at the 1983
Summer Special Olympics games in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. |
| 1983-84 |
S. Michael Higgins appointed as Executive Director. Port Authority Police
sponsor First Annual Torch Run from Statue of Liberty State Park to Summer
Games at Rutgers. PIA joins NJSO! |
| 1984-85 |
Number of areas expand to 12. Piscataway becomes new headquarters. Pilot
program in Developmental Sports conducted. Fifteen athletes travel to Park
City, Utah, for International Winter Special Olympics Games. New Jersey State
Benevolent Association sponsors Torch Run through the State. William Paterson
College becomes site of Summer Games. |
| 1985-86 |
Burlington County becomes Area 13. Sports Management Teams formed in all
sports to assist local coaches. Certified officials volunteer for all Winter
Games sports. |
| 1986-87 |
Governor Kean attends Opening Ceremony for seventh straight year. The
Football Giants' Joe Morris roasted by teammates in NJSO benefit. NJSO sends
fourth largest delegation in world to 1987 International Games at Notre Dame.
Middlesex County becomes Area 14. |
| 1987-88 |
Seasonal Competition format introduced. Summer Games hosted by Princeton
University. Princeton corporations join PIA, Law Enforcement officers and DCA
to fund games. |
| 1988-89 |
Thirty-five athletes attend the 1989 International Winter Special Olympics
Games. New Jersey athletes Cindy Reed (Sports Illustrated) and Chris Byrne
(Turner Broadcasting System), are featured. Law Enforcement Torch Run expands
to encompass most of the Garden State via the eight legs of the route. |
| 1989-90 |
Summer Games hosted by Trenton State
College. Winter Games format expanded. |
| 1990-91 |
Garden State Celebrity Golf Classic inaugural year. New Jersey sends fifth
largest team to International Summer Games in Minneapolis/St. Paul. Bob Reasso,
Head Coach for Rutgers University, coaches NJ Team. Spring Sports Festival
moves to Seton Hall University. |
| 1991-92 |
League program expands to all team sports. |
| 1992-93 |
NJ is largest representation on Team USA at the first World Winter Games
to be held outside of the United States in Austria. NJ wins gold medals in
highest figure skating divisions in 5 events. Sectional Competition
introduced. |
| 1993-94 |
Law Enforcement Torch Run celebrates 10 years by raising over $300,000 for
NJSO and hosting National Torch Run Conference. Fall Sports Conference
attracts 200+ coaches and volunteers. |
| 1994-95 |
Marc S. Edenzon appointed as Executive Director. Team USA-NJ attends 1995
World Summer Games in New Haven, CT with the third largest delegation in the
world, bringing home 144 medals. 25th anniversary. NJ Law Enforcement selected
to organize final torch run leg to World Games. Garden State Celebrity Golf
Classic raises $135,000-renamed Mike Higgins Celebrity Golf Classic in honor
of S. Michael Higgins. Park Avenue Club opens. |
| 1995-96 |
Largest Winter and Summer Games conducted
in the history of NJSO. 3,200 new athletes sign on to school and summer
programs. NJ Law Enforcement Torch Run ranks 3rd in the world. NJSO
relocates to Princeton. |
| 1996-97 |
1st Athlete Congress conducted at the State Senate Chambers.
382 attend the Annual Awards Dinner. Four athletes, two coaches and two Law
Enforcement officers participate in the 1997 World Winter Games in Toronto,
Ontario, Canada. 800 athletes invited to 1997 Special Olympics New Jersey
Winter Games. |
| 1997-98 |
New Jersey Special Olympics changes name to
Special Olympics New Jersey.
Worldwide, all program names begin with Special Olympics. Our logo remains the
same. |
| |
Special Olympics New Jersey
celebrates Special Olympics International 30th Anniversary. Law
Enforcement for Special Olympics New Jersey celebrates its 15th
Anniversary, ShopRite/Wakefern Food Corporation celebrates 10 years of
support, and Professional Insurance Agents of New Jersey/New Jersey Young
Insurance Professionals celebrate 15 years of support. |
| 1998-99 |
Law Enforcement Torch Run ranks 2nd in the world. 700 attend
1998 Awards Dinner. 1998 Summer Games includes over 2,000 athletes.
Sixty-eight New Jersey athletes selected to Team USA to attend the 1999 World
Summer Games in North Carolina. SONJ athlete featured on limited edition
Wheaties box and a "Got Milk" ad. |
| 1999-00 |
First
Special Olympics New Jersey
Conference -For Athletes by Athletes- conducted featuring athletes
as speakers, volunteers and keynote speaker Christopher Reeve.
Athlete Congress publishes "The Power"- a newsletter for athletes by
athletes featuring Athlete Congress writers and distributed at
Winter and Summer Games. SONJ athletes featured on limited edition
of TEAM Cheerios cereal boxes. Ford Ranger truck donated to
facilitate competitions throughout the state. |
| 2000-01 |
Ten New Jersey athletes selected to TEAM USA to
attend the 2001 World Winter Games in Alaska.
Special Olympics New Jersey
athletes featured on limited Golden Grahams cereal box celebrating
Golden Moments. Ford passenger vans contributed to develop new
delivery system for Special Olympics programs and Law Enforcement
Torch Run. Area 14 Middlesex County programs merged with Area 5
Union County programs. |
| 2001-03 |
The
Special Olympics New Jersey
Sports Complex opened its doors! A one-of-a-kind facility for
Special Olympics programs, the center offers year-round educational
opportunities for athletes, coaches, volunteers and families, as
well as partnership opportunities for schools and community agencies
in need of inclusive programs for persons with disabilities. The Law
Enforcement for Special Olympics New Jersey Torch Run ranks number
one in fundraising among 87 international Torch Run programs. Get
Into Our Game, a training program for schools and community
agencies, is launched, providing participation opportunities to 900
new athletes. |
