47th Special Olympics winter games open

CARRABASSETT VALLEY – The unseasonably warm temperatures at the 47th Special Olympics Winter Games was a welcome surprise for the 450 athletes on 64 teams from across the state who are competing today and tomorrow at Sugarloaf.

Athletes began competing in all the Olympic events-Nordic and alpine skiing, snowshoe races, speed skating, and dual ski-as scheduled, as temperatures rose Monday morning into the mid-40s with periods of rain and sudden gusts of wind. As the teams gathered for the Parade of Champions, the rain stopped and the sun came out.

“I think this is the first time we’ve have rain,” said Lisa Bird, spokeswoman for the Special Olympics Maine program, said before the official start of the games.

The athletes, coaches and volunteers marched in behind their colorful banners wearing hand knit red and white colored scarves donated by volunteers from across Maine and other states. This is the fourth year the volunteers have made the scarves with this year’s colors reminiscent of Where is Waldo, Bird quipped.

Of the 64 teams competing, the Mt. Abram High School team had four students participating this year. Jessica Whitney, Hannah Holland and Tristan Woodbury raced in Nordic events on Monday morning and Brett Moon tried out the dual ski. The athletes had plenty of help as Nordic team members: Alice Cockerham, Levi Bouchard, Brandon Hemingway, David Kidd, Destiny Thorndike, Dillan Wells, Dylan Starbird, Katie Maxsimic, Reed Stevens, Riley Hagerstrom, Risa Marble, Tor Tooker and Xavier Romanoski were on hand to give the racers encouragement as volunteer coaches.

The chaperones/volunteers for Mt. Abram’s competitors were: Amanda Davis, Andrew Delcourt, Briana Kenney, Tabitha Riendeau, Erica Luce, Jim Bergeron and Paula Murray.  Buzz Bean served as coach for the Nordic team volunteers. They also volunteered at the snowshoe race venue.

During the Opening Ceremonies, Carrabassett Valley Board of Selectmen Chairman John Beaupre welcomed the athletes to the games.

“This is the event we’re most honored to host,” he said, “for the Maine Special Olympics athletes, coaches and volunteers.” Sam Morse, who grew up in Carrabassett Valley and is an champion alpine skier on the U.S. Ski Team, led the athletes in the Special Olympics oath: “Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”

Lighting the Special Olympics torch were athlete Tommy Ouellette of Lewiston, who is on the Life Center team of Auburn and Detective Tom Stanton of the Brunswick Police Department.

Tonight a torchlight parade, fireworks and victory dance will be held to celebrate the games. Final competitions run through Tuesday morning and conclude with closing ceremonies at noon.

The winter Special Olympics in Maine held the first event anywhere back in 1969 in Gorham. The Special Olympics program provides year-round athletic training and competitions for adults and children with intellectual disabilities. In Maine, there are more than 4,000 athletes involved in the program, which offers over 60 events annually at the local and state levels.