Special Olympics Kentucky will return to Perfect North Slopes in Lawrenceburg, Ind., for the 20th consecutive year Jan. 29-31 when the facility will host the Special Olympics Kentucky State Winter Games. Nearly 100 Special Olympics Kentucky athletes are expected to take part, competing in alpine skiing and snowshoeing events. The Games fwere originally scheduled for Jan. 22-24 before weather forced their postponement.
The 2017 Kentucky State Winter Games kick off at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, January 29, with the Opening Ceremonies, which will include the parade of athletes, Special Olympics Oath and the lighting of the Special Olympics cauldron.
Monday, January 30, is a day of practice and time trials for the athletes. Practice runs will be held beginning at approximately 10:30 am and time trials for all courses will run after lunch (about 1 pm). The annual Victory Dinner and Dance will also be held on Monday beginning at 6:30 p.m at the East Lodge at Perfect North Slopes.
All competitive runs will be held on Tuesday, January 31. All ski and snowshoeing races will be held in the morning, again beginning at approximately 10:30 am. Skiers will complete giant slalom and slalom courses on levels ranging from developmental to advanced-plus. Snowshoers will compete in any two of 25-, 50- and 100-meter races. All awards will be presented after lunch (beginning between 1 and 1:30 pm) during a medals ceremony that will be held in the East Lodge.
Among the athletes competing will be skiers Kelly McCormick of Louisville and Patrick Tutsch of Lexington who will compete in the 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games March 15-24 in Austria as part of the Special Olympics USA team. In addition, Special Olympics USA head alpine skiing coach and longtime State Winter Games volunteer Jimmie Johnson will be at the State Games, serving once again as the official course setter for the State Winter Games.
The State Winter Games are organized by a committee made up primarily of employees and retirees of Dow Corning Corporation in Carrollton and Kentucky Utilities.
Other companies and organizations supporting the Special Olympics Kentucky State Winter Games include Special Olympics Kentucky Year-Round Partners Texas Roadhouse and the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics; Gold Sponsor Speedway Childrens’ Charities; and Supporting Sponsors Kentucky Utilities, Louisville Ski Club and Perfect North Slopes. Kentucky Fried Chicken of Lawrenceburg and Wendy’s of Lawrenceburg will once again combine to provide lunches for all of the event volunteers.
For more information about the Special Olympics Kentucky State Winter Games, contact Mark Buerger, Special Olympics Kentucky communications director, at 502-695-8222 (office) or (859) 338-6075 (mobile) or via e-mail at mbuerger@soky.org.
Special Olympics is the world’s largest program of sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Participation in competitive events is open to all individuals eight years of age or older. Training and competition in local, area, state, and national programs is offered year-round in Kentucky in 15 sports. In addition to its traditional sports competitions, Special Olympics also offers early childhood programming through the Young Athletes Program and medical screenings though the Healthy Athletes Initiative. Special Olympics Kentucky has been changing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities in Kentucky for 47 years.