Volunteer Sport Officials Needed for 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games Special Olympics is seeking volunteer sport officials for the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Boise, Idaho USA, to be held 6 -13 February 2009. Up to 3,000 athletes from more than 85 countries will compete in seven sports. Becky Fischer (left), former Special Olympics Pennsylvania (USA) athlete, is part of the Special Olympics Officials Program for Athletes (SOOPA). Fischer and her mentor partner Susan Mitchell (right) served as officials at the 2005 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Nagano, Japan The majority of officials will come from the host Special Olympics Program (Idaho), but a number of international officials from other states and countries, as well as Special Olympics athletes participating as qualified officials (SOOPA) and their mentors will be needed. International and/or National Sport Federation officials' certification, if issued by the sport, and/or Special Olympics officiating experience is required for all applicants. Application forms must be received by Special Olympics no later than 30 June 2008. The processing of application forms will begin immediately thereafter. IMPORTANT: All applications must have the signature of a Special Olympics Program's National Director/Executive Director/Program Representative in order to be considered. To identify your Special Olympics Program's National Director/Executive Director, contact your local or regional Special Olympics Program by using our Program Locator. Please submit completed applications by mail to: 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games Sport Officials Application Process 1133 19th Street, NW - 10th Floor Washington, D.C. USA 20036-3604 Or by e-mail to: vbowler@specialolympics.org Applications must be received by Special Olympics no later than 30 June 2008. Applicants will be notified of the results of the selection process by 25 July 2008. Download application forms: Alpine Skiing ( Adobe PDF format or Microsoft Word document) Cross Country Skiing (Adobe PDF format or Microsoft Word document) Figure Skating ( Adobe PDF format or Microsoft Word document) Floor Hockey ( Adobe PDF format or Microsoft Word document) Snowboarding ( Adobe PDF format or Microsoft Word document) Snowshoeing ( Adobe PDF format or Microsoft Word document) Speed Skating (Adobe PDF format or Microsoft Word document) For additional information, contact: Venisha E. Bowler, Senior Manager, World Games Competitions, at +1 (202) 628-3630 or vbowler@specialolympics.org