The "Special" Olympics is dumb

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Sometimes. But some autistic people cannot compete amongst non-limited people, same with a vast majority of the para-athletes. A lot of times, it's not necessarily about the competition, but the inclusion of the athlete and the family. Belonging somewhere can be really important.

Sure, maybe they need a place to belong. How about their home? When trophies are handed to *all participants*: the experience is cheapened for all of them, and the value of 'winning' and 'losing' is become muddied.

It's a farce... and it's being taught to the people who would have the very hardest time understanding that it is a farce. From that point, they will go through life until adversity properly strikes them. But hey, let's just baby them forever and never let them grow the fuck up, why don't we? I cannot possibly see this being an ill-advised move

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It's an improvement over sending them to the circus at least.

I disagree. If they have the ability to function: I want to see them function, dammit

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"Special" competitors being crushed by pro athletes would not encourage them in any way.

Good.

One or more of them crushing a pro athlete would be rare, and would justify the "special" athlete being placed among equal peers within a regular competition.

People are people, end of. Babying them serves only to hope that they be helpless people. We're quite seriously not so different... and brains were never really what physical sports rely upon... and they don't necessarily need all of their senses for it, either. Myriad are the things any person might do, so long as they retain the ability TO do.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krjqmszB0xc

Seriously. The potential of humanity is immense. Don't be selling it short.

If they were able to compete at that level, they'd be placed in the "regular" Olympics or some such similar event.

Some of them could... the existence of 'the special olympics' ensures that they not strive past such.