I have said it before this has not been a typical winter in the Johnstown area. There has been little snow and more rain. The temperatures have been rather nice for winter. It has been a welcome change to most from the ordinary. But that is not stopping Special Olympics Pennsylvania from making yet another visit to the area.
The 2012 Pennsylvania Special Olympics Winter Games will be returning to the Johnstown area for the eleventh straight year. The activities begin on Saturday, February 11 with the inaugural Laurel Highlands Polar Plunge at the Quemahoning Reservoir. The official opening ceremonies will take place on Sunday at 6:30 pm at Johnstown’s Central Park. The opening ceremonies will feature motivational speeches and performances as well as the lighting of the torch.
The competitive events will take place at four locations in the area. The figure skating events will be held downtown at the Cambria County War Memorial Arena with the speed skating events taking place at Planet Ice in nearby Richland. The Alpine (downhill) skiing events will be held at Hidden Valley Resort. Last but not least are the cross-country skiing and snowshoeing events which will be held at Blue Knob Four Seasons and Ski Resort.
Competitions are scheduled to begin on Monday, February 13 and continue through Tuesday. The competitions and the games commence with closing and awards ceremonies on Tuesday afternoon from 1:00 pm until 3:00 pm at each venue.
Special Olympics was created to provide an opportunity for children and adults with intellectual disabilities to participate in Olympic type sports.Pennsylvania’s chapter was officially recognized in 1970 and currently has more than 20,000 members. The vision of Special Olympics is a world where everyone is accepted and valued regardless of their abilities or disabilities. The individual athletes that compete are provided with free training which provides the athletes with not just sports training but also socialization training too. This not only results in physical fitness but also improves confidence, self-esteem and discipline. It is a life changing opportunity for both the athletes and volunteers.
So come out and show your support for these brave athletes. Spectators are welcome to come be supportive at each of the events and venues. There are also volunteer opportunities available. For information on volunteering contact Mike Ermer at (607)435-0693 or by e-mail at mermer@specialolympicspa.org.
So good luck to all of the athletes! Have fun and be safe. And thank you for showing us the strength of the human spirit.
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