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More than 60 million television viewers tuned in as a dozen Special Olympics New York athletes kicked off and starred in Broadway's biggest show: the 77th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City on Thursday, 27 November. The parade aired on NBC and Telemundo from 9 a.m. until noon.
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The Today Show's Al Roker, left, announces the parade's ribbon cutting official start with Robin Hall, Macy's Group Vice President for Annual & Special Events and executive producer of the Parade; and Special Olympics New York athlete Sean O'Rourke. Hall said, "The Parade is the opening act of the holiday season for Americans from coast-to-coast. It brings people together, whether they are lining up along the 2½ mile Parade route or gathering in front of the television in anticipation of the NBC broadcast. The Parade is and will always be, a constant in America's hearts and homes." [Photo courtesy Special Olympics New York] |
Special Olympics New York athlete Sean O'Rourke of Bayshore, a 25-year-old who completed the half-marathon at the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games (the World Games held in Dublin, Ireland featured more than 7,000 athletes with mental retardation from 150 countries), helped to cut the ribbon at 77th Street and Central Park West, officially starting a 5,000-person procession that included 10 marching bands, 15 character balloons and performers such as singer Clay Aiken. The NBC telecast of Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade was hosted by The Today Show's Katie Couric, Matt Lauer and Al Roker.
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Athletes from Special Olympics New York proudly carry the banner heading up the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, which was seen in its entirety simultaneously on NBC as well as Telemundo — a combined estimated audience of more than 60million television viewers. Following the athletes is Tom Turkey, who first flew in 1929 and hasn't been seen since 1959. [Photo courtesy Special Olympics New York] |
Special Olympics New York participants walked at the front of the parade as more than 2 million New Yorkers lined the 2.5-mile route.
In addition to O'Rourke, Special Olympics New York marchers included: Manhattan's Anthony Arriaga, 20, Felix Eng, 14, and Anthony Hassan, 18; 13-year-old twins Shaylah and Kaylah Williams of Brooklyn; Medford's Matt Schuster, 20; Alyssa Scroope, 15, of Smithtown; 14-year-old Adam Stein of Katonah; 15-year-old E.J. Greczylo of Shenorock; and Staten Island's Sasha Alexander, 15, and Alan Russo, 15.
Special Olympics New York is one the largest Special Olympics programs in the United States, providing sports opportunities to nearly 40,000 athletes through a network of 30,000 volunteers.
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