Special Oympics Begin

Thousands of athletes from more than 140 countries, many in native clothing and waving flags, paraded proudly into the Yale Bowl to open the 1995 Special Olympics World Games.

President Clinton, wearing a Special Olympics commemorative tie, was in the stands with the 70,000 spectators to greet them and then declared the games officially open. The president and first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton were seated next to Eunice Kennedy Shriver, who founded the program in 1968.