Daily Archives: June 9, 2023

The summer games take place June 9-11 at Indiana State University and Rose Hulman.

David Paul, of Milan, competing in Powerlifting at the 2022 Summer Games. Photo provided.

Get ready to witness the extraordinary talents and unstoppable spirit of our local Special Olympics athletes as they gear up for the highly anticipated 53rd annual Summer Games of Special Olympics Indiana! With months of dedicated training and unwavering determination, the delegation from Special Olympics Indiana Ripley Ohio Dearborn Counties, consisting of 64 exceptional athletes, 12 Unified Partners, 14 passionate coaches, and 15 dedicated team members, is ready to take the stage.

Prepare for an electrifying experience from June 9th to 11th as over 2,000 athletes, including 179 Unified partners, 311 coaches, and 677 delegation members from all corners of the state, gather at the prestigious campuses of Indiana State University and Rose Hulman Institute of Technology. This remarkable event is set to showcase three days of intense competition, awe-inspiring achievements, heartwarming friendships, and joyous celebrations.

Embracing the theme "Everyday Champions," inspired by the remarkable film "The Best We've Got: The Carl Erskine Story," this year's Summer Games will honor the remarkable journey of Carl Erskine, who exemplifies what it means to be an everyday champion. Carl's profound impact goes far beyond his triumphs on the field, as he champions acceptance, leadership, and inclusion through his small, everyday actions within his community. Prepare to be inspired as Carl encourages everyone to follow his lead and make a difference.

In a true display of champion spirit, the Games will feature a wide range of Olympic-type sports, including bocce, bowling, cycling, powerlifting, swimming, track and field, and volleyball. Our local delegation is shining bright, with 5 awe-inspiring athletes competing in powerlifting, 9 remarkable swimmers, 11 incredible track and field athletes, 11 unstoppable volleyball players, and a staggering 40 exceptional bowlers ready to make their mark.

But the Summer Games go beyond the thrill of competition. Athletes will also have the opportunity to benefit from Special Olympics' Healthy Athletes program, which offers free screenings for eyes, hearing, and dental health. In an environment designed to provide comfort and support, these screenings aim to alleviate the anxiety and fear often experienced by individuals with intellectual disabilities during medical visits. Athletes requiring further care will be referred appropriately, and those in need of eyeglasses will even have the chance to receive a complimentary pair. Special Olympics' mission to enhance athletes' health and fitness ensures an all-encompassing experience that promotes overall well-being.

Prepare for an unforgettable Opening Ceremony on Friday night, where our delegation will shine proudly. Special Olympics athlete Charlie Wilson will kick off the festivities with a breathtaking rendition of the National Anthem, while Coach Tito Castillo will inspire all with the Coaches Oath. It's a moment that will fill the air with anticipation and excitement!

None of this would be possible without the tremendous support from our local community. Through year-round fundraising initiatives like the upcoming Fire Truck Pull in August and the incredible Knights of Columbus Summer Games Fund, we have successfully raised a staggering $13,640 to cover the cost of room and board, as well as games registration. A special thanks goes to the Knights of Columbus for their generous contribution of $7,344 from the Summer Games Fund.

Get ready to witness the thrill, the passion, and the incredible accomplishments of our local Special Olympics athletes as they embark on this unforgettable journey at the Summer Games. It's an event that will leave you inspired, uplifted, and filled with admiration for these everyday champions. Join us as we cheer them on, celebrate their triumphs, and create memories that will last a lifetime.

Read this article:

Local Special Olympics Athletes Set to Ignite the Summer Games - Eagle 99.3 FM WSCH

The event will be held in Germany for the first time.

STILLWATER, Minn. Detective Matt O'Hara has been with the Washington County Sheriffs Office for 17 years.

He's currently assigned to the Coordinated Response Team, which includes the pairing of law enforcement with an embedded social worker to connect those experiencing mental health crises with critical services to reduce law enforcement contacts. As part of his role, he is a handler to therapy K9 "Rookie" who accompanies him on calls.

She responds with us, our embedded social worker, and the rest of our team," he said.

When hes not out in the community, he's taking on another initiative.

Well be carrying the flame of hope around Berlin, Brandenburg, and other parts of Germany," he said.

TheSpecial Olympics World Games are the world's largest inclusive sports event where thousands of athletes compete in 26 sports.

The games will be held from June 17 - 25, itll be the first time Germany will host the games.

To kick off the world summer games, much like the Olympics, there is a ceremonial torch run that takes place starting this week in Athens, Greece. This torch run follows the same principles that the Olympic torch follows, and it will be carried by law enforcement, or "guardians of the flame" from around the world.

It's very humbling and Im honored to be selected on behalf of MN and behalf of law enforcement torch runners," he said. "Being one of only 100 in the world selected and 40 in the US, that gives us an amazing opportunity to go Im looking forward to it.

O'Hara has been heavily involved with the Special Olympics for almost 20 years and is the incoming program director for the Minnesota Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics, which is the largest grassroots fundraiser for Special Olympics worldwide.

"My first law enforcement job, I was introduced in 2004," he said. "Since then, I participated every single year, have even been a torch runner or participated in different fundraisers.

While Ohara is looking forward to participating, hes also raising money to help support Special Olympic athletes and is just $1,000 short of his goal.

"All of the donations we collect can go right to the athletes in our community. When we are able to generate funds for special Olympic athletes, we know its all-encompassing for everyone we serve," he said.

Continuing a tradition for years to come.

I love giving back to our athletes and I will remain on the board and continue to do what I do throughout my career," he said.

He says the trip is expected to last 8 days and hell be flying out this Sunday.

To donate to Detective O'Hara's fundraiser, visit the link here.

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Read more:

Washington Co. deputy to carry the torch in 2023 Special Olympic World Games - KARE11.com

The Olympics is arguably the most prestigious event in the world when it comes to sporting events. Yet, motorsports arent something that usually finds its way into the roster of sports that athletes compete for. But it wouldnt hurt to dream up what would happen if there were motorsports series included in the Olympics as well, motorsports like NASCAR.

Because recently, NBC tried exactly that. With the power of Chat GPT, they asked the tool to generate who would be the best candidates for a fictional NASCAR Olympic team for the 2024 games. The result may have surprised a few fans, who then expressed their feelings on social media.

Chat CPT had generated four names of drivers who would work as a 4 man relay team. The list included Denny Hamlin, Jimmie Johnson, Ryan Blaney, and Kyle Larson. While fans did not object to having Blaney and Larson, they werent too pleased to have the seven-time Cup Series champion and the JGR driver on board.

After the NASCAR Olympic team was predicted, the fictional one, the fans made their intentions clear over social media, regarding the choice of Johnson and Hamlin. They even went on to suggest alternatives ranging from Kyle Busch to William Byron to complete the team.

One enthusiast voiced his opinion, stating, Not Hamlin. Another chimed in, asserting, Id replace J.J. with Kyle and Denny with a Willy B. A third supporter made a strong point, commenting, Remove Denny and you have a team. Adding to the diverse views, a different admirer proclaimed, Jimmy is washed. Replace with Kyle Busch and yes.

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Rounding out the conversation, a fifth enthusiast contributed his perspective, suggesting, Replace Johnson with Kyle Busch replace Blaney with Logano and you have a squad. Hell replace Denny with MTJ so they can win the championship.

There is no doubt both are supremely good drivers with one of them having 7 Cup championships to his name. Still, fans did not make him the popular choice for such a thing as an Olympics lineup. And the answer to why that wasnt the case may lie in how the two drivers have been performing lately.

Ever since Johnson rejoined the NASCAR grid this season, there had been a lot of hype surrounding the NASCAR icon. However, the expectations and hype fell short after taking a look at his performance on the racetrack. He wasnt the same JJ during his peak form a couple of years ago. Moreover, he also had not been able to perform well in most of the races this season as well.

Meanwhile, for Hamlin, well, he treads on a thin line between fans, mostly thanks to his personality. Either the fans like him or they absolutely do not. Hence, seeing their names on the list, made the fans suggest the exclusion of these two drivers.

Perhaps for the better, considering others like Busch would actually have a better chance at succeeding at a high-pressure task like racing in the Olympics.

View post:

Missing the Captain Kyle Busch - Fans Demand Exclusion of Denny Hamlin and Jimmie Johnson in NASCAR ... - The Sportsrush

Smoke from the Canadian wildfires have forced some changes, but Special Olympics Delaware said they will be lighting their torch and holding their Summer Games this weekend in Newark.

The two-day event gets underway Friday on the University of Delaware's campus, with the Opening Ceremony and torch lighting scheduled for 4:15 p.m. inside the Bob Carpenter Center.

Over 600 athletes and unified partners, including some from Virginia, will take part in six sports over the two days.

Ceding to the expected reduced air quality, some venues were switched to indoor options, with swimming moving from the University of Delaware's outdoor pool to the Carpenter Sports Building, while Tennis will be held at the Elkton Indoor Tennis Center.

Friday morning outdoor contests in Track & Field and Softball were postponed, but are still expected to be held on Friday afternoon and Saturday.

Updated schedules are available on the Special Olympics Delaware website.

The Olympic Village traditionally held in front of Delaware Stadium was cancelled, while the Family BBQ and Dance is still expected to be held, but a new location was pending as of Thursday night.

Over 170 coaches and 1,000 volunteers support the event, which is open and free to the public.

Regionally, Special Olympics Pennsylvania decided Thursday morning to cancel their three-day event in State College, Special Olympics Virginia is postponing all outdoor events, while Special Olympics New Jersey wrote on their Facebook page that they intend to hold their events as normal starting on Friday.

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Special Olympics Delaware moving forward with Summer Games ... - 1150AM/101.7FM WDEL