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Citizen PDF – Headline: The Ottawa Citizen formally invites all to the Ottawa Special Olympics 2007 Provincial Winter Games send-off party in support of local athletes

CTV DVD Footage – Headline: JJ Clarke and the CTV weather reporting staff brave the cold in support of Ottawa Special Olympics athletes as they prepare for the 2007 Provincial Winter Games

Nepean This Week – PDF’s – Headline: Nepean This Week highlights the efforts of Ottawa’s Special Olympics athletes as they return from a rewarding trip at this year’s Provincial Winter Games.

Ottawa Special Olympics 2007 Provincial Winter Games Send Off Party, January 25, 2007.

Ottawa’s Athletes Bring Home Gold, Silver and Bronze at the 2007 Provincial Winter Games in Owen Sound, February 1 – 4, 2007.

Ottawa Senators Hockey Fans Help Raise Money and Awareness for Ottawa Special Olympics, February 24, 2007.

• Special Olympics is a charitable, non-profit organization that provides sports training and competition opportunities for individuals with an intellectual disability.
• The Special Olympics phenomenon began in 1965 when a Canadian Physical Education Professor, Dr. Frank Hayden, of London, Ontario, determined through research that as a result of frequent physical activities, the mental capabilities of people improved as their physical capabilities increased.
• The first ever Special Olympiad was staged in Chicago in 1968.
• Today, Special Olympics has grown to serve over 2 million athletes who have an intellectual disability in more than 150 countries around the world.
• Special Olympics is not just an event that takes place once every four years as there are hundreds of Special Olympics’ programs throughout the province which provide athletes with the opportunity to train twelve months of the year.
• The Ottawa District Community of Special Olympics Ontario has over 250 volunteers and over 500 athletes who participate in sixteen sport disciplines throughout the year.
• Ottawa Special Olympics provides sports training and competition opportunities to individuals aged 8-88 with an intellectual disability.
• Less than 5% of our funding comes from the government. The rest is from corporate fundraising, sponsorships and personal donations.
• Our Athlete’s Oath is “Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”
• Special Olympics Ontario services over 150 communities across Ontario through 1,688 sports clubs, operated by a dedicated team comprised of over 7,000 volunteers.

To inquire about athlete or coach interviews or event coverage with Ottawa Special Olympics, please contact the Marketing & Communications Coordinator, Charmaine Nielsen at marketing@ottawaspecialolympics.org.

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