Great Falls hosts State Summer Games

City will host Special Olympics Montana for third, final year

(February 12, 2008 — Great Falls) For the third and final year, the Electric City will host the Special Olympics Montana State Summer Games. This year’s Games will be held May 14th – 16th at various venues around Great Falls.

"Special Olympics Montana looks forward to celebrating one final year of summer games with the Great Falls Community," said Bob Norbie, CEO of Special Olympics Montana. "We’ve had overwhelming support from volunteers, donors and sponsors during the past two years. It will be bittersweet to leave such a great location. But we look forward to ending this three year run on a high note and with the stellar cooperation we have always received from the Great Falls community. This summer’s games won’t soon be forgotten."

More than 1,000 athletes, 450 coaches from 75 teams will visit Great Falls as they compete in eleven different Olympic-type sports over the course of the Games. Events include track and field, bowling, equestrian, bocce, gymnastics, cycling, golf, powerlifting, soccer, aquatics, triathlon and motor activities training.

In addition to competition, the Games will include numerous special events, such as the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, Olympic Village, Wellness Park, Victory Dance and Carnival, Families Hospitality and Barbecue, VIP Reception, Dine Out Night and the Law Enforcement Torch Run.

N.E.W. Customer Service Companies will be the Games premier sponsor for the third consecutive year. Ray Zukowski, N.E.W. Senior Vice President of Operations, will serve as Honorary Games Chairman.

"N.E.W. is proud to complete three years of premiere sponsorship for these remarkable Games," said Zukowski. "It has been an easy decision to be involved with this great event, and we are honored to help with this final year. We truly believe in giving back to our great community and we’ve been lucky to participate in such great magnitude during the past two years."

Special Olympics Montana is a 38-year-old movement that enables children and adults with intellectual disabilities to train for life through sports. An athlete-centered, family-based and volunteer driven organization, Special Olympics Montana relies almost exclusively on the support of community volunteers, businesses and service organizations for leadership, planning and preparation, in-kind and financial gifts. For more information about Special Olympics Montana, please visit www.somt.org or call 1.800.242.6846 or 406.216.5327.

article in the Great Falls Tribune

more about State Summer Games

About Special Olympics
Special Olympics is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities to become physically fit, productive and respected members of society through sports training and competition. Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and competition to 2.5 million adults and children with intellectual disabilities across 165 countries. The Special Olympics movement offers one of the world’s greatest platforms for acceptance and inclusion for all people–regardless of race, religion, ethnicity or cultural differences. Find out how you can become involved atwww.somt.org

Special Olympics Montana
PO Box 3507, Great Falls MT 59403
fax (406) 454-9043

Contact: Autumn Reagor
Wendt
(406) 454-8519