Top Competitor at 48 Special Olympics veteran John Baldwin, a top competitor at 48, started skiing in the Special Olympics Games the first year that the event was held at Cuyahoga Valley National Park.   Action Starwood Hotels and Resorts will donate $50 for every "Sweet Sleeper Bed," "Heavenly Bed" and "Four Comforts Bed" sold through Westin at Home or the Westin, Sheraton and Four Points Web sites (up to $150,000). Promotion runs through 30 June 2007.   Did You Know? On 5-11 February 1977, the First International Special Olympics Winter Games were held in Steamboat Springs, Colorado (USA), with more than 500 athletes competing in skiing and skating events. CBS, ABC, and NBC television networks covered the Games.

The "R" Word: Everybody Hates It HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA. By refusing a part, Vincent Martella does his part to change attitudes about people with intellectual disabilities. . . read more

Special Olympics Athlete Kester Edwards Speaks at Launch of Inclusive Fitness Coalition WASHINGTON, DC. JAN. 24. Special Olympics athlete Kester Edwards was one of many notable speakers who addressed the importance of increased access to exercise and physical activity for people with physical and cognitive disabilities.  . . .read more

Join Special Olympics Family and Youth Leaders at the 2007 World Games in Shanghai SHANGHI, CHINA. Special Olympics is seeking applicants for the 2007 International Family Leadership & Support Summit, and the 2007 Global Youth Summit in Shanghai, China. . .  Find out more about the summits and how you can get involved.

Special Olympics Volunteers Louisa and John Wood talk about their time in China SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA. Louisa and John Wood left their home in Santa Monica, California, in 2005 to work as development volunteers and English teachers in an impoverished county in rural, western China. . . read more

Special Olympics Uzbekistan Marks its Five-year Anniversary TASHKENT, UZBEKISTAN 1 FEB. On 1 February 2007, 80 guests participated in a conference in Tashkent marking the five-year anniversary of Special Olympics Uzbekistan. The conference aimed to highlight the achievements of the Program and to encourage cooperation with new partners. . .  read more

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This communication is sponsored by Special Olympics, Inc. The mission of Special Olympics is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community. For more information, please visit our Web site: www.specialolympics.org