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Special Olympic Games 2009 Boise NewsBy Disabled World - Jan 31, 2009 9:09:05 AM News items and information on sports events and preparations in the lead up to the 2009 Special Olympics hosted in Boise Idaho USA.
News items and information on sports events and preparations in the lead up to the 2009 Special Olympics hosted in Boise Idaho USA. 9 - Feb -2009 - The Special Olympics 2009 World Winter Games began officially Saturday night with a lively and entertaining celebration at the Idaho Center in Nampa. Locally, on Friday, The Community School in Sun Valley hosted a dance for the athletes in town during Host Town Week, and on Sunday Wood River High School hosted the Snowflake Ball for the visiting delegations. *** Extreme Networks, Inc.'s today announced that it is assisting with the high performance network requirements for the Special Olympics' World Winter Games, taking place in Idaho, from Feb. 7-13th. The Special Olympics' World Winter Games feature competitive events, ranging from cross-country skiing to snowboarding. To support the event, Extreme Networks is providing a converged Ethernet network across three different cities, including Ketchum/Sun Valley, McCall and Boise. "We are thrilled to have Extreme Networks once again help us with its converged network solutions that establish a reliable infrastructure supporting our large staff with communications and data connecting over 160 IP phones and 350 PCs, all of which are vital to the success of the event," said Josh Crosby, director of IT for the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games. "We are looking forward to another very successful week here at the games in Idaho."*** Grammy winner Kenny G also performed a song he wrote specifically for the ceremony. But what really made the event special were the families and friends of the athletes. "I've got 25 people from my family here from this area. We're actually from Washington. It's just unbelievable, its just been great," said Rich Thueson, who came to support his son competing the games. "Me being here and having a ball with the athletes and interacting raises awareness and changes the way people think about people with different abilities," Knoxville said. "I know it changed the way I thought. . . I just hope by example of me being here it just opens people's minds a little bit more to open their arms to people." - Johnny Knoxville. "Well this is outstanding. This reminds me of my time in the Olympics back in the 60s and I think these athletes coming from around the world you can just see the happiness in their faces. It's a great event," - Billy Kidd. 7 - Feb -2009 - A spokeswoman for the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games said Vice President Joe Biden is expected to visit Idaho next week, near the close of the seven-day event for disabled athletes. Kirsten Suto Seckler said organizers are still working with the White House on the exact date of Biden's visit and how he will participate. The games start Saturday and run through next Friday, with opening and closing ceremonies at the Idaho Center in Nampa. You can watch the opening ceremonies on Local News 8 Saturday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. and catch both the opening and closing ceremonies on www.localnews8.com. *** 6 - Feb -2009 - Red Wing resident Ben von Haaren will compete for Team USA in alpine skiing at the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games. The 31-year-old von Haaren was one of four Minnesota athletes selected to represent Team USA at the Olympics, which begin Friday 6th Feb. 2009 in Boise, Idaho. *** After months of training, five Special Olympics Alaska athletes depart Feb. 4 to join the rest of Team USA in Boise. More than 300 athletes representing 85 countries will participate in the Games. Carpenter is the only athlete from Southeast on the team. His Special Olympics Alaska teammates are Megan McDermott of Anchorage, Amber Loop of Homer, Ian Frame of Homer and Pearl Weaver of Palmer. The last time the games were held in the United States was in 2001, when the games were held in Anchorage.*** 3 - Feb -2009 - This Saturday, the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games begins. Many communities in our state get a special opportunity to see the "Flame of Hope" as it travels to the opening ceremony in Nampa during the Law Enforcement Torch Run. The torch was lit three months ago in Athens Greece and has traveled more than 37 thousand miles across five continents on its way to the opening ceremony February 7th. *** In 2006, when Idaho was awarded the 2009 Special Olympics Winter Games, state analysts predicted the games could pump as much as $42 million into Idaho's economy, directly and indirectly. That was before the world economy hit the skids. But despite the recession, the Idaho Department of Commerce isn't revising its $42 million figure by much, saying the games will provide a significant infusion of outside cash. *** The 10th annual Penguin Plunge brought 670 charitable souls and cold water enthusiasts from all over to Hampton Beach clad in swimsuits, costumes and capes to raise money for Special Olympics New Hampshire. With a Mardi Gras theme and plenty of brightly colored strands of beads to go around, the mood was festive for the three waves of people who walked, ran and hopped their way through their plunges. Most spoke of wanting to support Special Olympics New Hampshire, which had raised $528,000 by the end of the day. *** More than 500 volunteers are needed for the 2009 Special Olympics North Carolina Basketball & Cheerleading Tournament, being held March 7-8 in Winston-Salem and Clemmons, according to SONC President/CEO Keith L. Fishburne. Athletes from 52 local Special Olympics programs across the state will compete in the event. Volunteers are needed to fill positions such as announcer, court assistant, venue support, volunteer registration and cheer team. Businesses, civic organizations, churches and youth groups are encouraged to get involved or form teams and be fans in the stands at the tournament, cheering on the athletes as they go for the gold. All volunteers will receive a free T-shirt and position-specific training. *** An eagle named Morley -- named in honor of the late Morley Nelson -- is the official mascot of the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games, which begins Saturday in Idaho. Hailed as a hero, Nelson earned Bronze and Silver stars and the Purple Heart during World War II. But he is best known for his lifelong battle to protect birds of prey. He was a master falconer who championed raptor conservation worldwide and was devoted to educating others, especially young people.*** 2 - Feb -2009 - Special Olympics Montana will conduct its State Winter Games Feb. 22-24 at Whitefish Mountain Resort. According to a press release from Whitefish Mountain Resort, this winter marks the 14th consecutive year that the Games have been held at the resort. Special Olympics Montana is a 38-year-old program that enables children and adults with intellectual disabilities to train for life through sports. *** 31 - Jan -2009 - Close to 1,000 athletes, coaches, officials, family members and friends will arrive in the Wood River Valley and Sun Valley Resort, Feb. 7-13, to participate in the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games. Officials headquartered in Boise say more than 400 athletes from 39 different countries will be snowboarding and cross-country skiing at Sun Valley and Dollar Mountain respectively. Bogus Basin will claim the alpine events. *** The 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games will be held in Idaho, USA, 7-13 February 2009 and nearly 2,500 athletes from more than 100 countries are expected to compete. Surpassing the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Winter Games in athlete numbers and participating nations, the World Winter Games will be the largest multi-day winter sporting event ever held in Idaho.
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