Special Olympics winter games open Monday at Sugarloaf

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CARRABASSETT VALLEY – An estimated 500 athletes and 1400 volunteers from more than 80 communities across Maine, are expected at the 39th annual Special Olympics Maine Winter Games held at Sugarloaf on Monday and Tuesday.

Athletes will compete in alpine and Nordic skiing events, ice skating and snowshoe races beginning with time trials on Monday morning at Sugarloaf and at the Outdoor Center nearby.


Hundreds attended the Special Olympics Winter Games held at Sugarloaf last year. This year’s games begin Monday.

The Parade of Athletes and opening ceremonies with the lighting of the Flame of Hope torch begins at noon on Monday outside the Base Lodge. For athletes and coaching arriving tonight, a special community supper will be held also at the Base Lodge at Sugarloaf.

The Special Olympics was founded in 1962 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, who had a sister with a disability. The games eventually evolved into a competition where people with intellectual disabilities could develop social skills, self-confidence and a sense of accomplishment, all while having fun, according to the games’ mission statement.

These concepts are captured in the motto of the Special Olympics: “Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me by brave in the attempt.”

Other activities highlighting this year’s event, in addition to the competitive events, include snowmobile rides, fireworks, a torchlight parade, dinners and more. The games close Tuesday afternoon. Below is the schedule of events.

Special Olympics Maine
WINTER GAMES
Sugarloaf & Sugarloaf Outdoor Center
MONDAY

7:00 – 7:45 AM BREAKFAST
Individual condos – each Team is responsible for its own breakfast
8:00 AM ALPINE ONE-ON-ONE
East Wing, Base Lodge
8:00 AM TRAINING & TIME TRIALS
NORDIC SKIERS: Morning Group
Report to Lodge at Outdoor Center
10:00 – 11:30 AM SNOWSHOE OLYMPIANS: Afternoon Group
FREE TIME: Snowmobile Rides, etc.
8:30 AM SNOWSHOE OLYMPIANS (morning group) – Report as Assigned!
Report to Snowshoe Venue – Carrabassett Valley Academy
9:00 AM ALL ICE SKATERS
Report to Lodge at the Sugarloaf Outdoor Center
10:00 AM DUAL-SKI OLYMPIANS
Report to Mt. Side of Base Lodge
10:00 – 11:00 AM FREE SWIM: Sugartree Health Club – you MUST have own lifeguard!
11:00 AM LUNCH: Base Lodge, East Wing
Nordic and Snowshoe Group 2
11:45 AM PARADE FORMATION: Courtyard, Village West
Noon – 12:30 PM OPENING CEREMONIES
12:30 – 1:00 PM LUNCH: Base Lodge, East Wing
Nordic & Snowshoe Group 1 & all others
1:00 PM – 3:30 PM TRAINING AND TIME TRIALS
ALL ALPINE SKIERS – Report to Division Leaders
ALL ICE SKATERS & NORDIC SKIERS: Afternoon Group
Report to Lodge at the Outdoor Center
SNOWSHOE OLYMPIANS (afternoon group) – Report as Assigned!
Report to Snowshoe Venue – Carrabassett Valley Academy
1:30 – 3:00 PM NORDIC & SNOWSHOE OLYMPIANS: Morning Group
FREE TIME: Snowmobile Rides, etc.
1:30 PM FINALS: 10 Meter Ski Walk
2:30 PM FINALS: All Levels of Giant Slalom
2:00 – 4:00 PM FREE SWIM: Sugartree Health Club – you MUST have own lifeguard!
3:00 PM FINALS – 3K – Outdoor Center
3:15 PM 400 Meter SNOWSHOE Run Finals (next to CVA dorm @ bottom of Access Rd)
3:30 PM FINALS – 3x1K Relay – Outdoor Center
4:00 – 6:00 PM FREE TIME (relax!)
6:00 – 7:00 PM BANQUET OF CHAMPIONS Base Lodge
7:00 – 7:30 PM TORCH LIGHT PARADE & FIREWORKS
7:30 – 9:30 PM OLYMPIAN DANCE MIXER – Base Lodge
7:30 – 9:30 PM MOVIE (Alternative to Dance) –

Carrabasset Room, 2nd FL of Hotel
10:00 PM LIGHTS OUT!

Special Olympics Maine
WINTER GAMES
Sugarloaf & Sugarloaf Outdoor Center
TUESDAY

7:00 – 7:45 AM BREAKFAST
Individual condos. Each Team is responsible for its own breakfast.

7:45 – 8:00 AM TRAVEL TIME

8:00 AM FINALS:

ALL NORDIC EVENTS
Sugarloaf Outdoor Center

ALL ALPINE EVENTS
Sugarloaf

ALL SNOWSHOE EVENTS
Carrabassett Valley Academy

8:00 – 9:00 AM FINALS – Master Age Group (30 & over)
9:00 – 10:00 AM FINALS – Junior Age Group (15 & under)
10:00 – 11:00 AM FINALS – Senior Age Group (16-29)

9:00 AM ALL ICE SKATING EVENTS
Sugarloaf Outdoor Center

DUAL-SKI EVENTS
Sugarloaf

12:00 NOON CLOSING CEREMONIES
Base Lodge
All are encouraged to attend Closing Ceremonies.

You may be the recipient of one of these awards:
– Frank Hemingway Award
– Michael Ripley Award
– Brian McGovern Award

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