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FAQs
2009
How can I get involved?
- Make the athletes, delegation members, and visitors to campus feel welcome. We won't all speak the same language but everyone understands a smile.
- Attend a ceremony or competition to show your support!
- If you are a student looking for a topic for a paper or research project, do a search on the phrase Intellectual Disability, see where it leads you and let the search spark a topic for you.
- Visit the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games website to learn more about the games and Special Olympics in general.
- Visit the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games Education Initiative page to learn how to raise awareness in Idaho schools about persons with intellectual disabilities.
- If you have ever attended a Special Olympics competition as an athlete, coach, volunteer, sponsor, spectator or in any other capacity, tell us your story so we can share it on our website.
- Check this website and the World Games website often throughout the next year for opportunities to help. (For the 2008 Invitational Games there was a call to knitters to knit scarves for the delegation members. Watch for other fun opportunities!)
- To volunteer for the 2009 games, go to the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games Volunteer
- Ask your friends, colleagues, club members, class mates if they want to volunteer as a group.
How can I learn more?
- check back to this website often
- check the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games website often
- Sign up to receive the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games Newsletter
How does an athlete get the opportunity to compete in the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games?
In order for an athlete to participate in the World Winter Games, they must win a gold medal in their division at the state (or equivalent) level. Their name is then placed in a lottery to be selected by random drawing.
What is the difference between Special Olympics Idaho, the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games and the 2008 Special Olympics Invitational Winter Games?
2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games is a separate but related organization from Special Olympics Idaho.
Special Olympics Idaho Special Olympics Idaho (SOID), a 501(c) (3) nonprofit charitable organization, was incorporated in 1972. SOID is the Idaho chapter of Special Olympics and is chartered by Special Olympics International. SOID is an on-going program that offers year-round sports training and competition in 15 Olympic-type sports to individuals with intellectual disabilities. SOID also offers health screenings and referrals as well as providing outreach initiatives. SOID has 68 community-based teams in Idaho, which serve more than 2,200 athletes aged 2-adulthood. SOID is a volunteer-based organization with more than 3,000 volunteers who provide program support. http://www.idso.org/website/idaho/index.cfm
The 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games (SOWWG) is a separately incorporated, 501(c) (3) nonprofit charitable organization responsible via contract with Special Olympics International for planning, organizing and staging the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games. The organization will operate with a separate budget, staff and Board of Directors from Special Olympics Idaho. The goal of the World Winter Games is to showcase the talents of athletes with intellectual disabilities from all over the world through international competition, and to leave a lasting legacy with the community and Special Olympics Idaho. Upon conclusion of the Games, the 2009 Games Organizing Committee (GOC) is dissolved and a new GOC is incorporated to run the next World Winter Games four years later.
The 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games will be held in Idaho, USA February 7-13, 2009 where up to 3,000 athletes from more than 100 countries will compete in seven winter sports—Alpine Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Figure Skating, Floor Hockey, Snowboarding, Snowshoeing and Speed Skating. The last World Winter Games were held in Nagano, Japan in 2005. The last time the World Winter Games were held in the United States was 2001 when the games were held in Alaska. http://www.2009worldgames.org/
2008 Special Olympics Invitational Winter Games The 2008 Special Olympics Invitational Winter Games were organized by the World Winter Games as a test event for the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games. The event allowed the GOC to test venues, operations and communications procedures, but also gave nearly 500 Special Olympics Idaho and international athletes the opportunity to experience world-class competition.
The 2008 Invitational Games were unique in that they incorporated Special Olympics Idaho’s annual Winter Games into the Invitational Games, allowing all eligible Special Olympics Idaho athletes the opportunity to compete at an international level.
2008
How many people will be on campus?
There are currently 356 athletes expected, plus 160 other delegation members (coaches, etc.) for a total of 516 delegation members.
There are currently 200 volunteers expected for campus sites.
There will be 5000 seats available for Opening Ceremony and 1000 seats available for Closing Ceremony.
There will be between 200 and 300 spectators each day for floor hockey. (Those spectators will be spread throughout the day, not all at the same time.)
How many people will be on campus each day?
February 25 - 5700
February 26 - 650
February 27 - 650
February 28 - 1700
Where will the athletes/delegations/visitors be?
Student Union Building for Special Olympics Town, Healthy Athletes, and Young Athletes (February 24-28)
Student Recreation Center for floor hockey competition (February 25-28)
Taco Bell Arena for Opening Ceremony (February 25)
Bronco Gym for Closing Ceremony (February 28)
View Calendar of Events
Can the public attend events on campus?
The public is welcome to Opening Ceremony, Closing Ceremony, and floor hockey competition.
The public is welcome inside the Student Union Building but access to certain rooms will be restricted. Those rooms are for the exclusive use of the delegation members to eat, relax, have fun, receive health screenings and services, and conduct meetings necessary to the operation of the games.
Where should I park?
Due to classes, we will have VERY limited parking for Special Olympics events. We encourage all those attending to carpool, take the bus, walk, bike or use any other alternative transportation option other than bringing a personal vehicle to campus. To avoid congested traffic we highly recommend entering and exiting campus off Lincoln Avenue and Beacon.
Opening Ceremonies:
Limited parking will be available in the East Stadium parking lot, the Lincoln Parking Structure, and General lots located south of University Dr. Event parking signs will designate the lots that are available for Special Olympics Parking.
Games:
Those attending events during the week, are to park in the East Stadium lot, the Rec Center lot (located south of the Rec Center), and the Lincoln Parking Structure.
Closing Ceremonies:
Parking will be available in the East Stadium, lots located south of University, and the Lincoln Parking Structure.
Does it cost to attend Opening Ceremony, Closing Ceremony, and floor hockey competition?
There is no cost to attend. However, seating is limited at each event.
5000 tickets will be available for Opening Ceremony.
1000 seats will be available for Closing Ceremony.
Seating will be limited at the floor hockey competition.
"Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt."
Special Olympics Oath
