Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founder, Special Olympics International, Inc., was a special guest at the Academy's area. Dr. Tipton and Dr. Bynum showed Mrs. Shriver the Academy exhibits and discussed the importance of musculoskeletal health care. During the tour, Mrs. Shriver also spoke with athletes participating in the Academy's Happy Feet research project and she autographed T-shirts.
The Academy launched its Special Olympics Healthy Athletes program with a free continuing medical education course chaired by Dr. Gill. The Academy now plans to prepare a protocol book and video to help state orthopaedic societies participate with a Healthy Athletes program on an annual basis in their state.
The Academy and American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society had booths at the fair that featured brochures, posters and fact sheets on sports safety, feet, low back pain and other injury prevention topics. For this event, the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine published a new brochure, "The Importance of Physical Activity for Persons with Mental Retardation." This material was available to Special Olympics athletes and coaches free of charge.