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When the Special Olympics cauldron in Central Park was lit Sunday night, it signaled that the 2011 Special Olympics Pennsylvania Games officially had begun in Johnstown and the surrounding area.
Competition will begin today and continue Tuesday at Cambria County War Memorial Arena in downtown Johnstown, at Planet Ice in Richland Township, at Hidden Valley Ski Resort near Somerset and at Blue Knob Four Seasons Resort at Claysburg.
Lighting of the cauldron concluded the Games’ Opening Ceremonies in Johnstown’s Central Park.
More than 300 athletes were in the park for the Opening Ceremonies.
They cheered when Joseph Primera, an Alpine skier from Chester County and the Games’ global messenger, took the stage and told the athletes that anything is possible in the Games.
Jim Burton, WJAC television meteorologist and a Special Olympics board member, was master of ceremonies for Sunday night’s Opening Ceremonies.
“We are going to have great weather for the Games,” he said, noting the warming temperatures that Johnstown had on Sunday.
“Tomorrow (Monday) head to head competition will begin in Alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, figure skating, speed skating and snowshoeing,” Burton said.
“But tonight we’ll warm things up with the excitement and energy of our competing athletes,” he emphasized to cheers from the athletes and their supporters.
Buddy Casado, Special Olympics Pennsylvania board chairman and a former Johnstown resident, and Matt Aaron, Special Olympics Pennsylvania president, made brief remarks.
Aaron announced from the stage that 2011 will be Paula Eppley-Newman’s last as events director. He said she will continue with Special Olympics Pennsylvania as director of its Polar Plunge.
The new events director will be Lesley Meyer, this year’s events co-director.
“The next two days will hold meaningful competition for our athletes, inspirational moments for our volunteers and proud moments for family and friends,” Burton said in closing the Opening Ceremonies.
Loretta Clairborne of York County said at the Holiday Inn before the Opening Ceremonies that she was participating in her 41st Special Olympics Winter Games.
She will be competing in figure skating this year.
Robert Schilling of Cambria County will be competing in advanced Alpine skiing, he said.
“I want to do good and have fun,” he said simply.
Laurie Manges of Somerset County was preparing to compete in the relay and 200 and 100 meter events.
“I look forward to meeting my fellow athletes,” she said.
Local News
Related Photos
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Athletes from Lycoming County gather around the torch Sunday night in downtown Johnstown after the Opening Ceremonies of the Special Olympics. Andy Marchese/For The Tribune-Democrat
Discussion
Grand opening
Events kick off Special Olympics Winter Games
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