Interviews from the USA National Games Julie Balamaci, from Edgemont High School in Scarsdale, New York, participated in the 2006 USA National Games Youth Summit and spent the week conducting interviews that are available here for download. They were originally distributed as Podcasts, taking advantage of new technology to spread the Summit's message of inclusion and acceptance. Balamaci's focus with the interviews was to find out ways that youth are involved with Special Olympics and how to increase that number in the future, as well as the benefits of young people participating in the movement as volunteers, coaches and Special Olympics Unified Sports® partners. As his sister Katie looks on, Michael Metayer of Special Olympics New Hampshire participates in the Motor Activities Training Program (MATP) events at the 2006 USA National Games. When asked how Special Olympics has changed his life, Metayer said "Gives me goals to work toward. Attending National Games makes my family proud."       Several of the interviews conducted by Youth Summit reporter Julie Balamaci discussed MATP, and Lynn Marowski spoke of the need to support the siblings of Special Olympics athletes and how they can be powerful leaders in their own schools and communities. MATP events are designed for persons who do not yet possess the physical and/or behavioral skills necessary to participate in official Special Olympics sports. Many athletes have physical disabilities as well as intellectual disabilities. Some will ultimately progress to lower ability events in sports such as gymnastics or bowling, but even for those who cannot, MATP participation improves their coordination and social skills. [Photo by Ryan Eades] An interview with Loretta Claiborne, Special Olympics Pennsylvania — Listen to MP3 audio file, 2.7M      Claiborne, a Special Olympics International Board Member and Global Spokesperson, speaks four languages (including sign language) and holds an honorary doctorate degree from Quinnipiac College, the first person with intellectual disabilities known to receive such an honor. Her life was the basis for "The Loretta Claiborne Story," which tells the compelling story behind the 1998 winner of ESPN's Arthur Ashe Espy Award for Courage and member of the Women in Sports Hall of Fame. "I interviewed her because I wanted to get the perspective of an athlete on how youth today could get more involved in Special Olympics programs," said Balamaci, who was moved by the emotion and depth of the interview, since Claiborne's life had been so changed by Special Olympics. An interview with Mary and Wallace Woods, parents of Kori, a Special Olympics Wyoming athlete who participated in the MATP events — Listen to MP3 audio file, 1.9M      "This was also a very emotional interview, because the parents were talking about their own child and how life is for them living with her," said Balamaci. "They seemed hopeful that more youth would get involved with Special Olympics in the future." An interview with Luann Morlando— Listen to MP3 audio file, 1.9M      Morlando was the head coach for Special Olympics New York's volleyball team competing at the USA National Games, and is also the mother of a Special Olympics athlete. She offered Balamaci tips on how young people can get involved in the movement. Erin Vandersee (second from right) and Sharon Duffey (far right), both from North Fayette High School, listen to Special Olympics Chairman Tim Shriver speak at the National Youth Forum. Vandersee and Duffey's interviews with Julie Balmaci, a fellow Youth Summit participant are available to download on this page. [Photo by David Peterson/Des Moines Register, used with permission, all rights reserved] Interviews with Sharon Duffey and Erin Vandersee, Team Iowa (North Fayette) reporters for the Youth Summit and participants in the National Youth Forum.       "I just asked these girls what they had been doing the past couple of days and how they felt about everything," said Balmaci. "They were very positive — Sharon [Special Olympics Iowa athlete] described more of how things were going overall, while Erin [Duffey's partner] talked about how their team went to the MATP venue and met some of the athletes."       • Sharon Duffey — Listen to MP3 audio file, 1.9M       • Erin Vandersee — Listen to MP3 audio file, 2.0M An interview with Joni LaDew — Listen to MP3 audio file, 2.6M      Joni LaDew attended the USA National Games as a representative of her employer, State Farm Insurance, who supported the Youth Forum and Summit as a partner. "She wanted State Farm to be a part of the National Games," said Balmaci. "She was very helpful and understanding of the needs of Special Olympics." An interview with William D. Porreca, President/CEO of Special Olympics Vermont — Listen to MP3 audio file, 2.6M      "William Porreca introduced the concept of Unified Sports to me," said Balmaci. "He gives a good description of the Unified Sports program in Vermont, and said it was a way for more youth to get involved with Special Olympics." Unified Sports is an initiative that combines approximately equal numbers of Special Olympics athletes and athletes without intellectual disabilities, called partners, on sports teams for training and competition. An interview with Bob Johnson, Executive Director of Special Olympics Massachusetts— Listen to MP3 audio file, 2.6M      "I asked him about how the youth involvement was in his state and he was very helpful," said Balmaci. "He talked about how the kids in Massachusetts are getting more involved with Special Olympics events, even producing some themselves in their schools." An interview with Lynn Morawski — Listen to MP3 audio file, 2.6M      Lynn Morawski is not just the mother of a Special Olympics Pennsylvania athlete, she has been a coach with the Program for many years. "She was really helpful because she gave me some more insight on Special Olympics programs and youth today," said Balmaci. "Lynn was my favorite interview because she was very optimistic about the future!"