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Thank you, SOTX Volunteers
As the 2012 Winter Games draw to a close, we want to take a moment to thank the hundreds of volunteers who came out to assist SOTX staff in putting on the various events around Austin and Round Rock this weekend.
There were folks who knitted literally THOUSANDS of red and blue scarves and then shipped them to Austin. The athletes and coaches loved the scarves and felt the love that went into every stitch. Thank you. Volunteers, including dozens of area law enforcement officers, made the Opening Ceremonies a special event for each of the teams who traveled to the Austin area. Thank you. Winter Games 2012 included three bowling venues Friday through Sunday and featured solo bowlers, team bowlers, Unified Bowlers and ramp bowlers. Each of our athletes received assistance and attention from our volunteers. Thank you. Powerlifiting athletes were spotted and assisted by volunteers with special knowledge of powerlifiting...and others who knew nothing about it but enjoyed giving encouragement. Thank you. Volunteers at the volleyball venue did a little bit of everything. Thank you. At the Figure Skating venue, volunteers endured freezing (literally!) temperatures to encourage the skaters. Thank you. At Athlete Village and Wellness Park, volunteers made sure that the athletes had a fun and relaxing time away from the competition. They supervised games and crafts and ran the extremely popular karaoke machine. NASA employees traveled from Houston to talk with athletes about the importance of fitness and nutrition, and they brought with them an astronaut who spent a lot of time with athletes, graciously posing for photos and signing autographs. Thank you. At the Victory Dance, volunteers danced with the athletes and made sure everyone had a great time. Thank you. Behind the scenes, volunteers prepared tasty food for staff, volunteers and some athletes throughout the games. Thank you. Volunteers helped staff the merchandise tables, making sure that visitors to the games were able to purchase and take home something special to remind them of this special time. Thank you. Area Spring Games and statewide Summer Games are coming soon. Please see our website for info on getting involved! http://www.sotx.org/get-involved/volunteer/ And, once again, thank you. We couldn't do any of this without you.
Fun Times, Competition and Travel - Winter Games 2012
Winter Games means fun times, plenty of competitions and traveling. For Conroe ISD H.O.D. David Kight it's a chance to bring some of his athletes from his area to state games for the first time. Coach Kight has brought about 25 Conroe ISD athletes 156 miles to Austin to compete in bowling and powerlifting at Winter Games. It's a chance for some of his kids to experience the world outside their home town for the first time. "It means so much to the athletes to travel and see friends they haven't seen in a while. They get so excited. Some of our athletes have never stayed at a hotel, so it's a chance for them to see some new places and meet some new friends," said Coach Kight. The Adaptive PE teacher has been a coach for 20 years with Special Olympics Texas, but says even if he wasn't a teacher, he would still be involved in one way or another. "It's just wonderful to be out here with all these athletes, watching them be successful in whatever sport they compete in," said Coach Kight. What keeps him coming back each year? "The enthusiasm! Just listen to that (referring to the crowd cheering on a powerlifter)," said Coach Kight. These experiences can last a lifetime and can build their confidence to go on and do bigger and better things. It's all about the successes. "I run into my athletes working at Krogers or other work places and it's just a great feeling knowing I had a part in their success," said Kight. Coach Kight says there have been plenty of moments that stand out and he can't imagine any other way to spend a weekend than hanging out with his team. As far as the Conroe ISD team is concerned they have nothing but love and admiration for their coach and his winning ways. What will all the kids be talking about on the drive home to Conroe? Coach Kight quickly replied with a smile, "Who won medals and who got ribbons." How about the dance? "Yeah, they'll talk about that a little," said Coach Kight. Of course that's just a part of Winter Games, but it's an important part that many athletes cherish, next to the friendships, the competitions, the travel and oh, the Victory Dance.
Wellness Park - '12 Winter Games
Flexibility, strength and conditioning, and great reach are just a few things that give an athlete – especially a SOTX athlete – that competitive edge. That’s why Winter Games competitors got put to the test in Wellness Park, a fitness component of the Games that examines athletes’ physical ability, vision, hearing and foot health at no charge. This weekend, volunteers from across the country are in Austin to perform several different agility checks on hundreds of Winter Games athletes. From sit-ups and leg lifts to toe touching and marching in place, Wellness Park volunteers are measuring everything from speed to balance to control - everything they’ll need to bring home the Winter Games gold! Competing? Take a break between rivalries and visit Wellness Park at Highland Mall between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Saturday.
2012 Winter Games Opening CeremonyThe 2012 Winter Games opening ceremony Thursday night in Round Rock was exciting for the Special Olympics athletes who traveled from all over Texas to compete in the Games. Hundreds of athletes gathered in the Round Rock High School gym to watch the Parade of Athletes and recite the Athlete's Oath. Law enforcement officers from the Round Rock Police Department, the Austin Police Department and the Travis County Sheriff's Office participated in the ceremony and in lighting the torch. Special Olympics Texas athletes will compete in bowling, volleyball, figure skating and powerlifting over the weekend. Also available on Saturday will be the Athlete Village and Wellness Park at Highland Mall. Be sure to stop by and visit Athlete Village--NASA employees, including an astronaut--will be present to display space memorabilia including real moon rocks and authentic space suits. And you can't miss the Victory Dance Saturday night! Be sure to return to Round Rock High School from 7 to 9 p.m. and dance the night away with your friends.
The Will to GiveSwimming on Sunday, golf on Monday, bowling on Tuesday, softball on Thursday and bowling again on Saturday. No, it’s not the weekly line up for ESPN; it’s the action-packed schedule for Special Olympics Texas – Greater Houston area athlete, Kevin Harrell. Without such a busy life, Harrell’s mom, Jane, explained, “Our lives would be very quiet. Kevin would be isolated from the community. I think I would too.”
Harrell said Special Olympics Texas has changed both Kevin’s and her life “completely.” Not only is she passionate about the impact the organization’s had on her son, but also the difference it’s made on those around her. “It has opened up a whole world of friendships for him,” she beamed. “It has been a life-changing experience. I think it’s changed the lives of everyone with a special child.” Harrell’s faith in and positive experience with SOTX over the years compelled her to make a generous contribution to the organization. She decided to will her entire estate to SOTX. “I have very little family and I know how much SOTX has meant to my son, and there’s no price to put on what Special Olympics Texas has done for Kevin,” Harrell said while choking back tears. “That’s what motivated it, the love of SOTX.” Harrell has always been a contributor of both time and money. She makes financial contributions when she can to support the Greater Houston area. Despite her son’s hectic sports schedule, Harrell also finds time to volunteer as a SOTX golf and bowling coach. Her message to other parents of special needs adults and children about getting involved is simple and straight to the point. “Do it,” she exclaimed. “It’s the most life-changing thing that you’ll ever do for your child. Parents that let their child sit at home after [graduating from] high school are doing them a terrible disservice. [Special needs] programs come and go as their staff changes; Special Olympics Texas is consistent and always does their job.” To learn how easy it is to include SOTX in your will or estate plan, visit http://www.sotx.org/donate/.
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Thank you to our Official Partners and year-round Co-Sponsors:
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