The 2009 World Winter Games were the largest international sporting and humanitarian event of the year, with more than 2,000 athletes from almost 100 countries participating. During the seven-day event (February 7-13), athletes competed in seven winter sport events: Alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, figure skating, floor hockey, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and speed skating
Special Olympics Florida sent two athletes participating in the World Winter Games: Angela Gunderman of West Palm Beach (alpine skiing) and Rebekah Lohr of Jupiter (figure skating).
The Special Olympics World Games, held every two years and alternating between Summer and Winter Games, are much more than just a sporting event. In addition to showcasing the skills and achievements of Special Olympics athletes, the 2009 World Winter Games embodyiedthe movementÂ’s messages of acceptance and inclusion.
These Games brought together heads of state, celebrities and leaders in the fields of education, health care, business and sports to witness firsthand Special OlympicsÂ’ ability to transform communities and the lives of more than 190 million people worldwide with intellectual disabilities. Most importantly, the 2009 World Games focused on the power of young people as leaders in shattering stereotypes and changing attitudes.
Where to Watch and be Connected to the World Games
The following media outlets and web sites supported the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games with coverage, photos, videos, and viewing opportunities of the Opening Ceremony, competition, daily highlights and much more!
Starting Saturday, February 7, fans will be able to view photos and video of each athlete's competition and awards, along with daily highlights of events and activities of the World Winter Games.
Tallahassee Students Join 130 Youth Leaders From Around the World In Idaho for Global Youth Summit
Phyllis Jakes, a Special Olympics Athlete and 8th grade student at Raa Middle School and Anna Jacobs, a Unified Partner and 9th grade student at Leon High School, were selected from among hundreds of applicants from around the world to participate in the fifth Global Youth Activation Summit on intellectual disabilities that will be held in conjunction with the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games.
The summit will launch a new Special Olympics youth engagement initiative which positions young people as leaders for fostering inclusion in their schools and communities. During the summit, Phyllis and Anna, along with the other participants will attend youth-led leadership training programs, participate in interactive sports experiences and help host four live Webinars to connect with their peers internationally.
The purpose of a Youth Summit is to bring together 10-20 youth pairs, ranging from ages 12 to 17. Each pair is composed of one Special Olympics athlete and one partner without an intellectual disability who, together, serve as delegates representing their school, community, state/province or nation.
Phyllis and Anna will also serve as journalists, writing blogs, developing podcasts and composing stories for publication and to be shared with home and school news outlets, posted to the Special Olympics Web site, posted to the 2009 World Winter Games Web site and shared through other social networking sites.
Watch the Global Youth Rally Webcast on February 9!
Join thousands of youth with and without intellectual disabilities for an inspiring and motivational event that will launch a global movement to champion a world of acceptance for all people.
Date: Monday, February 9 Time: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 Noon Mountain time (Noon - 2:00pm Eastern Time) Participants: 3,000 young people on site; 100,000 via live streaming video Webcast
Celebrity supporters will host a two-hour interactive show around the issues of tolerance and acceptance. The rally will be a fast-paced, multi-media event resulting in a call to action for young people relating to Special Olympics and advocating on behalf of respect, dignity and inclusion for all that participants will carry back to their home communities and schools.
The goals of the event are to:
• Generate awareness among youth about Special Olympics and people with intellectual disabilities;
• Present important issues about tolerance and acceptance in an entertaining and engaging way;
• Create a call to action for young people relating to Special Olympics and advocating on behalf of respect, dignity and inclusion for all.
Florida Law Enforcement Represented in Final Leg Team of Global Torch Run
Pat Finan of the Florida Department of Corrections is used to running, but not in snow. Yet he ran through ice and snow in temperatures Floridians aren't accustomed to. But he's got a good reason...
Finan (pictured right with Miami athlete Nicholas Perry) is one of only 80 law enforcement representatives from around the world who were chosen to participate in the "Final Leg Team" of the Global Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics.
The Final Leg Team serves as the Guardians of the Flame of Hope as it makes its way through Idaho, to its final destination: the opening ceremony of the World Winter Games.
The Flame of Hope began its journey on November 12, 2008 with a lighting ceremony in Athens, Greece. In accordance with Olympic tradition dating back to the Ancient Greeks, the Special Olympics' torch was lit by the sun's rays near Olympia, Greece and will remain lit until the end of the games on February 13.
After the lighting ceremony, the flame embarked on a three-month journey, transported internationally by DHL by air and land with DHL security staff members escorting the torch throughout the entire journey, traveling more than 37,000 miles to thirteen cities across five continents, delivering the message of hope to communities where people with intellectual disability continue to fight for acceptance and a chance to excel without barriers.
Global stops included Athens, Greece; Warsaw, Poland; San Jose, Costa Rica; Johannesburg, South Africa; New Delhi, India; Shanghai, China; and five cities in the United States: Miami, New York, Los Angeles, Washington DC, and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho for the official handover ceremony to the Final Leg Team.
11-15-08
Team USA-Florida Heads to Colorado for Olympic Training Dec. 1-5
In two months, Angela Gunderman of West Palm Beach and Rebekah Lohr of Jupiter will be making the trip to Idaho and surrounding areas for the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games. But first, they are heading to Copper Mountain, Colorado, for a five-day training camp Dec. 3-7.
Lohr will be competing in figure skating and Gunderman will be competing in Alpine Skiing.
For Team USA, consisting of 355 athletes and 85 coaches, plus management team members, this training camp is the first official time many of the athletes will meet their World Games coach and other athletes from all over the nation who will be joining them on their trip to World Games. The camp will offer a variety of coaches meetings and sport-specific training in alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, floor hockey, figure skating, snowboarding, snowshoe racing and speed skating.
Athletes and coaches will participate in team building activities. Featured events for the camp include an Idaho Night, featuring information about the GamesÂ’ host state. The training camp will be capped off Saturday evening with a dinner and recap of the events of training camp. Also during camp, athletes from Team USA will be fitted for their uniforms and have sport-specific photos taken.
This is the 9th Special Olympics World Winter Games, uniting nearly 3,000 athletes from 100 countries for competition Feb. 7-13, 2009. Special thanks go to Bank of America, Sage Hospitality, American Federation of Teachers, North American Police Ski Championships, Columbia Sportswear and Gear for Sports as sponsors and Toko as product supplier of Team USA.
Competition 
Finan (pictured right with Miami athlete Nicholas Perry) is one of only 80 law enforcement representatives from around the world who were chosen to participate in the "Final Leg Team" of the Global Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics.