Special Olympics Wisconsin (SOWI) is proud to announce that four new individuals recently joined the Board of Directors.

Special Olympics Wisconsin (SOWI) is pleased to announce Paul Baniel, Green Bay Packers Vice President of Finance and Administration, has been appointed as the new Chair of the Special Olympics Wisconsin Board of Directors.

On January 25, 2013, the United States Department of Education (DOE) released new guidance to schools and school systems throughout the nation that receive federal aid about the requirements of providing quality sports opportunities for students with disabilities. While the guidance does not make new law, it does identify the responsibilities that schools and school systems have under section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

It was my honor to attend the 2013 World Winter Games in the Republic of Korea from January 27-February 6, 2013. I have been very fortunate in my career with Special Olympics to have attended every World Games since the 1981 International Winter Special Olympics Games in Stowe, Vermont and Smugglers’ Notch. During that span I have continued to marvel at the ever-increasing skills of the athletes. This year was no exception. I was able to witness the skills of Jason, Alex and Daina firsthand as they all excelled in their events and brought home medals and ribbons. For them to be a part of TEAM USA was a great privilege and they certainly gave all of us from Wisconsin a reason to be proud.
 

Our annual day of awareness, the first Wednesday of every March, is fast approaching! Special Olympics Wisconsin (SOWI) invites you to become a champion for the Spread the Word to End the Word Movement and to support eliminating the use of the demeaning R-word, “retard” or “retard(ed)”.

Back to Wisconny

By Steve Meurett, Team USA Coach

I’m back on my home turf in Wisconsin. It's great to be away and see new, wonderful things, but like they always say, there is nothing quite like home. Korea had amazing cities, people and scenic land covered with snowy mountains. I am just so thankful for the opportunity to experience it and make a difference as a part of Special Olympics Team USA.I just want to thank all of you who maybe took a minute out of your day to read my posts.

By Bonnie Kahn, Team USA Coach

It’s Thursday and we are on our way back to LA. Yesterday, we finished packing and loaded the bus at 11 a.m. It was an hour before we pulled out and headed to Seoul. It's about a three hour ride, but things went smoothly.

By Steve Meurett, Team USA Coach

Today we made the big return trip to the USA. Team USA boarded three flights back from Korea. Our cross-country ski team was split between those flights, making caring for the athletes and their medical needs a challenge. Despite this, my coaches handled it well.

By Steve Meurett, Team USA Coach

Right now, we're 35,000' above the Pacific Ocean (at the International Dateline, with 3,290 miles to LA).Probably a good way to sum up a World Games is to address the athletes. Team USA cross-country was comprised of 27 athletes from almost 20 states. I could, in no good measure, introduce all of them here, but there are some that I'll always remember and I want to share their stories.

By Steve Meurett, Team USA Coach

I had a little surprise a couple days ago when my sports manager said there would be an abbreviated Parade of Athletes at Closing Ceremonies. Instead of the entire teach marching in (like they did opening night), there would be limited representatives from each team.