STATE COLLEGE —
It is not as exciting as playing basketball and winning medals, but Special Olympics basketball player Brian Wiesinger of Johnstown looks forward every year to the camaraderie of the Olympic Village activities.
“Every year it’s a lot different. I love it,” Wiesinger, 24, said on the East Halls lawn at Penn State.
Wiesinger received a silver medal Saturday as part of the Cambria County Special Olympics basketball team competing at Pennsylvania Summer Games in State College.
He says he looks forward to meeting friends from other counties he met during his nine years in Special Olympics.
Olympic Village illustrates the value of socialization and recreation that is part of the Special Olympics mission, village organizers Stephen and Donna Newburg of State College said.
“It’s been going on for quite a few years,” Donna Newburg said. “The Olympic Village is really a place for the athletes to go hang out when they are not competing.
“The idea is to have games for them to play, things for them to do, and have refreshments.”
Special Olympics Summer Games sponsor Sheetz had a free prize wheel game that was popular with athletes, Newburg said.
Dog trainer Cindy Spangler brought some of her best pupils to interact with the athletes.
“The kids look forward to the dogs every year,” Spangler said.
“They even know their names.
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