Special Olympic Games Open

 Disability Sports Special Olympics 2009 Special Olympics Idaho

The Special Olympics Winter Games have opened in Boise Idaho. The games were declared the games open at Saturday's ceremonies, beginning a week of competition that includes figure skating, snowshoeing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, alpine skiing, floor hockey and speed skating. Venues all over Southern Idaho will see competition involving more than 3,000 athletes from 85 countries.

The Special Olympics Winter Games have opened in Boise Idaho. The games were declared the games open at Saturday's ceremonies, beginning a week of competition that includes figure skating, snowshoeing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, alpine skiing, floor hockey and speed skating. Venues all over Southern Idaho will see competition involving more than 3,000 athletes from 85 countries.

Idaho businesses, organization, schools and community members proudly welcomed the Special Olympic Athletes and their support teams to the city of Boise with more than 10,000 people packed into the Idaho Center on Saturday afternoon to welcome athletes from around the world and usher in the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games. At the opening ceremonies athletes cheered, waved and danced to music from around the world as they filled the floor of the Idaho Center.

Blue and white lights representing the colors of the games are on the trees in Grove Plaza and many building owners have left their holiday building lights on for the games, including the tree light on top of the US Bank building which has been dubbed the “giant party hat”.

Idaho Gov. Butch Otter and first lady Lori Otter also took the chance to welcome athletes to the Gem State. "As governor of the great state of Idaho, I officially proclaim the 2009 Special Olympic World Winter Games open," he said. "Let the games begin."

Law enforcement officers and athletes then ran the last leg of the 37,000-mile torch run into the event's center to end the ceremony, circling the floor to wild applause. The Flame of Hope then passed to U.S. snowboarder Charles Howard, who officially ushered in the games by lighting the Special Olympic cauldron.

Downtown merchants will be hosting a Fashion Show including fashions from fifteen downtown stores. Each store is partnered with a Special Olympic Athlete that will lead the models on stage. The show goes on at 2:20pm on Sunday February 8th.

Teams from Somalia, Saudi Arabia, Comoro Islands, Djibouti will compete in snowshoeing. They will help make up the largest number of snowshoeing competitors of any Special Olympics World Winter Games.

The figure skating competition begins Sunday in Boise at Qwest Arena.

By Disabled World - Feb 8, 2009 8:56:25 AM

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