For Man With Asperger's, Ice Levels the Playing Field Michael Finlay competes in Special Olympics competition. (Photo courtesy: Bill Polo/ Globe Staff) From crossovers to sit spins, Michael Finlay, 27, a Special Olympics Massachusetts athlete, is in top form. Practice starts promptly at 5:30 a.m., four days a week. He can do axels, those one-revolution, backward jumps that often send Olympic stars toppling. Finlay also teaches skating to his peers with intellectual disabilities and hopes to coach one day. . . read more   Action Many employers sponsor matching gift programs and will match any charitable contributions made by their employees. Find out if your company will match your donation to Special Olympics.   Did You Know? The majority of countries do not have special laws to support the rights and opportunities of people with intellectual disabilities; in the United States, people with intellectual disabilities are not even considered a "medically underserved" population, despite evidence to the contrary.

High School Senior Delivers a Stinging Rebuke WHEELING, ILLINOIS, (USA) Soeren Palumbo is a senior honors student at Fremd High School in Wheeling, Illinois, and big brother to Olivia. During Writer's Week (in March 2007), he gave the following speech to a gymnasium full of his high school peers and faculty and received a standing ovation. . .  read more

Athletes Share the Net at Hoop City ATLANTA, GEORGIA/CLEVELAND, OHIO, USA Special Olympics Georgia and Ohio (USA) athletes practiced their dribbling skills, vertical jumps and free throws at Hoop City during the NCAA Final Four events at the Men's and Women's National Basketball Championships in Atlanta and Cleveland. . . read more

Boston Marathon Runner Andrew Bryant BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, (USA) Doctors didn't think Andrew Bryant would be able to read. His mom was told she probably shouldn't leave him alone, and that he might need help showering. Today, the mom who heard that painful diagnosis watched her son complete the Boston Marathon. . . read more

Young Golfers Tee Up in Hong Kong KAU SAI CHAU, HONG KONG Special Olympics Hong Kong joined forces with the Outstanding Young Person's Association to organize a charity golf tournament on 21 March. This unique event aimed to provide another chance for people with intellectual disabilities to hone their skills with golf amateurs, volunteers and local celebrities prior to the kickoff to the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai, China. . . read more

Special Olympics Slovakia Receives Donation at the Chinese Embassy BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA. On 4 April 2007, a reception was held at the Chinese Embassy in Bratislava, Slovakia, in honor of the upcoming Special Olympics World Summer Games, to be held 2-11 October in Shanghai, China. The Chinese Embassy presented Special Olympics Slovakia with a check which came from donations from the Association of Chinese People in Slovakia.  . .  read more

China Open Invites Special Olympics Onto the Court BEIJING, CHINA For the first time ever, Special Olympics athletes were invited and included by China Open, a major professional tennis organization, to participate in a mainstream sports event in China.  . . 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