2013 Special Olympics Winter Games Fan Page

Please enjoy this amazing guest blog post on Disability.gov from one of Special Olympics Kansas’ and Project UNIFY’s leaders, Clint Armistead. http://blog.govdelivery.com/usodep/2010/03/it-had-to-be-done-a-youth-perspective-on-the-rword-campaign.html

Be a fan™ is a fully-integrated marketing campaign designed to send a powerful message that resonates with the general public, tapping into core values and attributes that everyone can appreciate - unity, acceptance, empowerment, dignity, courage, strength, pride, confidence and fun. The campaign will help connect people who are not already associated with the Special Olympics movement to bridge the “relevancy gap” and, ultimately, support the Special Olympics brand goals. NBA.com blogger Sekou Smith has put it best – “Super Mario has a commercial that rivals those of Kobe Brant, LeBron James, Dwane Wade and their NBA brethren.” Today, “Skeleton” the newest PSA created by BBDO was launched in the advertising world. The 30-second spot, which uses state-of-the-art animation, features Mario Ogunbowale a 21 year-old Special Olympics athlete hailing from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Mario plays on the Milwaukee Blazers Special Olympics basketball team and started competing with Special Olympics...

[Special Olympics In The News] Four county students dominate snowshoe events at 2010 Special Olympics Winter Invitational POSTED: March 4, 2010 Four Chautauqua County students competed in a snowshoeing competition at the Special Olympics Winter Invitational held in Frewsburg Jan. 16. Travis and three of his classmates won a combined 15 medals at the competition, all in snowshoeing events. The competition took place at Frewsburg High School and was organized by the Special Olympics New York Western Region. Coaching the team were Special Education teachers Maureen Bialaszewski and Susie Hertlein, and Beverli Horrocks, school counselor. "Our students did an outstanding job at the Special Olympics Winter Invitational," said Jennifer Clark, Special Education supervisor at the LoGuidice Center. "We were very proud of the manner in which they represented the LoGuidice Center and the work they put into preparing for the event." Find out more... Snowshoes are footwear for wa...

Top athletes who compete in the Olympics make loads of money, but who is the richest of them all? Turns out that the top-earning athlete is none other than Korean figure skater Yuna Kim. According to Forbes, Kim Yuna and American snowboarder, Shaun White, earned approximately $7.5 million USD each in 2009. Yuna has signed with Nike, Hyundai Motors, Kookmin Bank and also had a personalized phone product called the Yuna Phone (1 million units were sold in 7 months, setting a company record). These endorsements, along with Yuna’s domination in ice skating, have made the nineteen-year-old into a millionaire. Some local firms are already reaping fruits thanks to Kim since no matter what items associated with her sells briskly from cheap accessories to expensive cars and home appliances. Included in the beneficiaries are Korea's flagship firms such as Samsung Electronics and Hyundai Motor, which sponsored Kim before she won Korea's first Olympic medal in figure skating. Samsung has...

Michelle Kwan, the Olympics figure skating medal list,visited South Korea on the beginning of January 2010. During the seven day trip, Michelle visited Seoul(the Capital), Pyeongchang(Potential 2013 Special Olympics Winter Games Host City) and Goyang. She participated in a roundtable discussion with university students, visit several high schools, conduct skating clinics, and participate in a Special Olympics program. In the Special Olympics program, the most decorated American skater lead Korean athletes of Special Olympics Korea at an ice rink in Gwanghwamun Plaza. Michelle Kwan spent about an hour guiding 11 young skaters in spins, jumps and crossovers. After having fun with the kiddies on the rink, the two time Olympic medalist remarked about the current reigning champion, Kim Yuna. "I know they all look up to Yuna Kim. It's a very big compliment when she said 'I looked up to you Michelle when I was very young,'" said Kwan. "I know that these kids have a ...

Adaptive skiing enables skiers with disabilities to participate in alpine skiing by using special equipment. Adaptive skiing lesson programs are available at many ski resorts for children and adults with a wide range of disabilities. There are a lot of places to provide adaptive winter sports lessons. Most of ski resports will continue until the end of March. Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports is a non-profit organization that provide sport opportunities - skiing, snowboarding, and other outdoor activities - to people with disabilities. Vermont Adaptive is based at Pico Mountain and lessons and equipment for all ability levels and all ages are available. Eldora Special Recreation Program (ESRP) is a program offering unique skiing and winter sports recreation opportunities for physically and mentally challenged individuals. Skiers of all ages and abilities take part in the many winter sports activities offered by ESRP. Colorado Discover Ability (CDA) is the Adaptive Ski and Snowboard...

South Korea is a very modern country. In Seoul, you will find a city that is as up-to-date as any in Europe, the United States, or Japan. But Korea has retained a unique identity through its own traditional culture, its language, and its wonderful cuisine. Walk through any city or town, along wide streets or small alleyways, and discover a wide variety of restaurants, both large and small. Country Name: Republic of Korea Capital City: Seoul Location: Korea is a rugged peninsula lying between China on the west and north and Japan to the east. Territory: 100,032km2 (South Korea) The whole Korean peninsula is about 85,500 square miles, about the size of Utah. South Korea is 99,000 square miles -roughly similar to Oregon. Population: 48,508,972 (July 2009 est.) Language: Korean (Written form: Hangeul) Climate: Four very distinct seasons Spring lasts from mid-March to the end of May and flower such as azaleas, cherry blossoms, and magnolias can be seen. Summer from June to August is...

Ganwon Province have been interested in hosting 2013 Special Olympics World Winter Games. More than 100 countries have participated in Special Olympics World Games which is an international sporting event on a global scale. In Asian region, only China and Japan have hosted this world games. South Korea submitted bidding book(application)to Special Olympics Inc. and SOI appointed the 2013 World Winter Games Site Selection Committee. From Feb 2, the Site Selection Committee has conducted in-depth visits to the Republic of Korea, including potential Games venues in the Pyeongchang Region of Gangwon Province, to determine the suitability of holding 2013 World Winter Games in Korea. 2013 World Winter Games Site Selection Committee enthusiastically recommends that the Board of Directors select the Pyeongchang Region of Gangwon Province, Republic of Korea, as the site of the 2013 Special Olympics World Winter Games, noting in particular the excellence of the Pyeongchang sports and accommodat...

Special Olympics and Paralympics are two separate organizations recognized by the International Olympic Committee. Special Olympics involves athletes from all ranges of physical abilities who have intellectual disabilities. A very small percentage of Special Olympics athletes also have physical disabilities. The Paralympics involves athletes from six disability groups who compete only on the elite sport level.. As in mainstream sports competitions, athletes who do not meet qualifying standards may not compete and others who are competing may lose in preliminary play. Th e mainstream philosophy of sport is applied, which facilitates competition to determine the “best” athlete or team.

Special Olympics is offering an opportunity for children and adults with intellectual disability to earn year-round sports training. It also often hosts athletic competitions for those to participate as a non-profit international sports organization. Such competitions improve physical ability of ones with intellectual disability and allow them to adjust to the society better. This is action of Special Olympics global movement. Origin of Special Olympics Eunice Kennedy Shriver founded Special Olympics in 1968 because of her passionate conviction that persons with intellectual disabilities, young and old, could take part in and benefit from competitive sports. Eunice Kennedy Shriver opened a daily camp for persons with intellectual disabilities in Maryland in 1963. Shriver found that people with disabilities were much more athletic and had greater abilties in physcial activities than most professionals had thought. Shriver had Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. foundation sponsor them to host the fir...