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"Regain Your Confidence, Reclaim Your Life">
Special Olympics Call-to-action
March 29, 2010
Good Afternoon Ladies!
This oh-so-important issue was brought to my attention recently via Twitter and I feel it's a topic worth sharing on.
The Speacial Olympics Winter Games Competition is about to get underway this week in Galena, IL at Chestnut Mountain. Each year, for the past two decades, Illinois Special Olympics has held their State Speed and Figure Skating Competitions in Dubuque, Iowa with the other winter games being held in Galena.
This year there was a scheduling snaffu and as a result the ice time for figure skaters has been affected. It has also brought into question whether or not the figure skater's segment can even be considered a competition because they will only be able to complete 25% of the competition, and according to the Special Olympic rule book that won't cut it. That in and of itself may not sound like that big a deal, but when you stop to think of the time, energy, and money that these very special athletes and their families invest in these activities you begin to understand that it is a very big deal to them.
And the plot thickens, as it is only the figure skater's time that is being reduced. Speed skating will not be affected. Catherine Witcher, M.Ed shares, "Experienced professionals in the area of Special Olympics offered to assist the Head Administration of the competition to adapt the speed and figure skating schedules to assure all skaters have a full competition, even with the reduced ice time. They, IL Special Olympics Officials, have refused help and expressed in e-mail communication that we are lucky we are allowed on the ice at all this year."
Although the time for the commencement ceremonies is fast approaching, Catherine who is a Nationwide Special Needs Consultant and Speaker is trying to get the word out to the masses in the hopes of having SO officials reconsider this unfair and one-sided ruling on how they plan to handle the reduced ice time situation.
So, ladies, if this is a topic that pulls at your heart-strings, then I ask that you post a blog about it, or at the very least repost my blog! Let's see if we can't make a difference for these phenomenol athletes who have poured themselves into their training, heart and soul, with their eye on competing and possibly taking the gold!
Together we can make a difference!
P.S. ~ This issue was brought to me by Catherine Whitcher, Certified Special Olympic Figure Skating Coach and Proud Sibling to Robert (Down Syndrome) Level IV Figure Skater Gold Medalist. Catherine can be reached at 1-800-432-0170 or 10815-302-1273.
Belief & Blessings,
Viki
Viki Stanley-Hutchison
Certified Life & Confidence Coach
Life Transitions for Women
www.lifetransitionsforwomen.com
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