Special Olympics North Carolina Athletes, Coaches to
Participate in the 2003 World Summer Games

Laughter, excitement, and the sounds of Irish folk music filled the air at Tir Na Nog Irish Restaurant in downtown Raleigh July 26 as a crowd gathered for the official presentation of Special Olympics Team USA-North Carolina for the 2003 World Summer Games to be held in Dublin, Ireland.

As the team was announced, they paraded through the restaurant, clad in red, white, and blue and waving American flags. A crowd including the athletes’ families and more than 250 volunteers, local program coordinators and sport development team members cheered them on. The celebration was only the beginning of the journey that these athletes and coaches will experience as members of Special Olympics Team USA-NC.

North Carolina’s 18 athletes and seven coaches will represent our state and nation in aquatics, athletics, bowling, cycling, marathon and powerlifting for the World Games, slated for June 20-29, 2003. It will be the first Special Olympics World Games to be held outside the United States. With 7,000 athletes, 3,000 coaches and official delegates and 28,000 families and friends estimated to attend, the Games will also be the largest sporting event in the world next year.

Nearly 1,000 athletes and coached comprise Special Olympics Team USA. They will be welcomed by the city of Belfast, which will serve as the host town for the team for one week prior to the start of competition.

With more than 26,400 athletes statewide, selecting only 18 to participate in the World Games required a fair and detailed selection process. In accordance with the Special Olympics, Inc. General Rules on criteria for advancement to a higher level of competition, the athletes were selected for the team based on their performance at state-level Fall and Summer Games. Top-finishers in each division from these events were included in a random draw for each sport offered. Candidates selected through the draw underwent an interview process to ensure commitment, feasibility of travel, and time away from home or work. The seven coaches were selected through a nomination and interview process.

SONC is working to raise the estimated $70,000 needed to cover travel, training, equipment and uniform expenses. A portion of the funds was raised through the Sunny 93.9 Gifts of Gold radiothon held in Raleigh last spring. The radiothon was a first for both Sunny 93.9 and SONC, and generated more than $18,000 for Special Olympics Team USA-NC. A second, annual fund raiser that began in 2001, Bluegrass on the Square, features more than 10 bluegrass bands performing on three stages at an all-day event in October. This year’s event will be held Sunday, Oct. 6 in Raleigh, with all proceeds benefiting Special Olympics Team USA-NC.

"The North Carolina delegation of Special Olympics Team USA represents a diverse group of inspiring athletes and coaches from across the state," said SONC President Keith L. Fishburne. "We are proud of all of them and know they will do an excellent job representing our state and nation at the World Games, an opportunity of a lifetime that would not be possible without the support of our sponsors." Special Olympics Team USA-NC sponsors include Cingular Wireless, RPG Benefits Solutions, the Fuqua MBA Games, Full Seven Technologies and Sunny 93.9 FM.

For more information on Special Olympics Team USA-NC, the 2003 World Games and upcoming fund raisers, please visit the SONC Web site at www.sonc.net.

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