by Dennis Alldridge, President of Special Olympics Wisconsin

I feel blessed and honored to have attended World Games since Stowe, Vermont back in 1981. But, I must admit that attending the World Games in Athens, Greece is a highlight of my career.

Milwaukee Area Athletes Bring Home Gold, Silver, and Bronze Medals For Special Olympics Team USA at the Country's Largest Sporting Event of the Year

The second day of Host Town brought incredible views of the island of Rodos, which is Greece’s largest island. Wisconsin’s athletes and coaches began the day training in their sports, both at a venue up against the sea coast line. Today’s breeze was spectacular, so the heat was easier to experience.

ESPN will cover the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Athens, Greece Opening Ceremony June 25-July 4th. The Opening Ceremonies will be carried live on ESPN.com on Saturday, June 25th from 12 - 3 p.m. (CST). The Closing ceremonies will be caried live on ESPN.com on Monday, July 4th from 12 - 3 p.m. (CST)

ESPN will also feature coverage during the games at http://espn.go.com/espn/thelife

After a short night of sleep (following a short night of sleep on the airplane with a time change), Team USA’s Wisconsin athletes, Chris and Rebecca, joined the more than 312 other athletes and 125 coaches and staff from Team USA to spend their first night in Rhodes, Greece, a beautiful southern island, for the Host Town Program. As the host town, Rhodes is not only introducing Team USA to the Greek Culture, but also giving them a direct view to the vibrant blue waters of the sea that surrounds them.

After a successful send-off press conference at the Wyndham Milwaukee Airport Hotel on Saturday morning, Team USA-Wisconsin was one of the last state's to arrive safely in Baltimore Saturday evening.

On Thursday, June 9th, the Flame of Hope™ was lit during the formal torch lighting ceremony of the Special Olympics World Summer Games Athens 2011, launching the Law Enforcement Torch Run® (LETR) Final Leg that precedes the World Summer Games.

The LETR Final Leg team consists of 145 international members, including 101 Law Enforcement Officer runners, 10 Special Olympics athletes, and support personnel.

After months and months of preparation, practice, and patience, the 2011 World Summer Games is in plain sight, as Special Olympics Wisconsin (SOWI) athletes Rebecca Stelpflug and Christopher Mark will board a plane to Greece this coming weekend accompanied by Wisconsin's Team USA coaches Bonnie Kahn, Deb Moore-Gruenloh, and Steve Muerett.