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T his page is dedicated to supporting Chris’ journey to the 2017 World Winter Games of Special Olympics. Chris is an 18 year old student of South Ripley High School in Versailles, IN. He will be competing in the sport of Snowboarding for Team USA in Schladming, Austria. This is a first for his local Special Olympics program – Special Olympics Indiana – Ripley Ohio Dearborn Counties (SOIN-ROD). Chris and his local program are responsible for raising the funds necessary to send him to Austria and training camp(s) in Vermont.


THE WORLD GAMES

Every two years, the world transcends the boundaries of geography, nationality, political philosophy, gender, age, culture and religion to come together for Special Olympics World Games. Alternating between summer and winter Games, this event is the flagship event of the Special Olympics movement, which promotes equality, tolerance and acceptance through the power and joy of sport. This prominent world stage brings attention to the Special Olympics movement and the abilities of people with intellectual disabilities. Currently, more than 4.5 million Special Olympics athletes train and compete year-round in 170 nations across the globe.

THE 2017 WORLD WINTER GAMES IN AUSTRIA

The 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games, will be held March 14-25, 2017, in Austria. More than 3,000 athletes from 110 nations will compete in 9 Olympic-type sports at the 2017 World Games: floorball, floor hockey, stick shooting, figure skating, speed skating, alpine skiing, snowboarding, nordic skiing and snowshoeing.

With an anticipated 3,000 athletes and 1,100 volunteers, the 2017 Special Olympics World Games will be one of the largest international sports and humanitarian events.

To learn more about Special Olympics USA and to follow the team to the World Games, visit their website, follow on Facebook.

  • DATES AND FACTS

    When March 14th- 25th 2017
    Where Graz, Schladming, Ramsau, Schladming-Rohrmoos
    Who 3,000 athletes of 110 nations
    1,100 trainer
    3,000 Volunteers
    5,000 family members/friends
    800 congress participants
    1,000 Media representatives
    1,200 MVP-Fans
    Disciplines
    (Participants)
    Figure skating(180)
    Speed skating (250)
    Floor Hockey/Floorball (1.160)
    Snow shoeing (300)
    Alpine skiing (390)
    Nordic Skiing (400)
    Snowboarding(120)
    Stick shooting (200)
    Opening Ceremony
    March 18th 2017 in Schladming/WM-Stadium Planai
    Closing Ceremony March 24th 2017 in Graz/Merkur Arena
    Programs
    • Health programs
    • School programs
    • Inclusive programs and competitions
    • Symposia, congresses
    • Culture and Arts programs
    • Globalized media programs
    • Guest programs spread across Austria
  • HOST COUNTRY/VENUES

    AUSTRIA

    One could have the feeling that all pride of Austria is focused on the winter sports. “The Austrian is not only branded as man of culture, but also as man of ski”, as, for example, the satirist and author Heinrich Steinfest states. After all, already our youngest ones are on their skis, their snowboard or on their cross- country skis, especially in the fantastic winter sport region of Styria.

    One can also put it like this, winter sport is a national shrine. People become hysterical, winter sports athletes are idolized, doesn´t matter whether they are active or whether they have already gone into retirement for decades. That´s exactly how Austrians stylize every winter sport competition to a national matter of highest importance. That´s exactly why Austria and its people become on the one hand completely quiet whenever there are large-scale events like the Olympic Games, because the people share the thrill in front of their TVs. On the other hand Austria and its people can become extremely noisy whenever there are games taking place in one´s own country like the Special Olympics World Winter Games 2017 in Styria. Then people swarm out in large numbers, turn the sports complex into a colorful sea of flags and hysterically share the thrill with the athletes.

    Granted, Austrians love it whenever they are able to organize large- scale sport events in their own country. This again draws them to awareness of the world, it makes the little Alpine country proud. They are just as proud of the fantastic mountains around the region of Schladming- Dachstein.

    Not long ago Austria held the FIS- World championship 2013 there- and this with great success. The locals seem to know why: „Because we are a crazy country for winter sports. And although here the alps are not the highest, they are the most beautiful ones“, as they stay with blinking.

    VENUES

    Planai Stadium
    Opening Ceremonies
    Merkur Arena
    Closing Ceremonies
    Graz Convention Center
    Floorball
    Floor Hockey
    Stick Shooting
    Graz Ice Hall
    Figure Skating
    Speed Skating
    Schladming-Rohrmoos Slope 32
    Alpine Skiing
    Snowboarding
    Ramsau WM Stadium
    Cross Country Skiing
    Snowshoeing

  • TEAM USA

    Special Olympics USA is comprised of 150 athletes, 40 coaches and approximately 20 delegation members who support team operations, for a total delegation of 210. The delegation also includes Special Olympics Unified Sports teams, where people with and without intellectual disabilities compete together, as teammates. Team members will compete in seven sports: alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, figure skating, floor hockey, snowboarding, snowshoeing and speed skating.

  • WAYS TO SUPPORT CHRIS

    Subway Peeler Cards

    • $10.00 each
    • Expiration Date: June 30, 2017
    • Locations: Aurora, Batesville, Greensburg, Milan, Bright, Lawrenceburg, Versailles, Seymour, N. Vernon, Jasper
    • Contact Greg at 812-584-6861

    Meat Smoking Contest/Gillman Home Center, Batesville

    • Saturday, Sept. 7th  7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
    • Meat Smoking Contest: $10 entry fee
    • $1 from each store transaction will be donated
    • Parking Lot Grill-out

    Oldenburg Village Store Grill Out

    • Friday, Oct. 7th
    • 100% Donated

    “Meet and Greet” Dinner/Silent Auction

    • Saturday, Nov. 5th 6:30 p.m.
    • Versailles Baptist Church, S Washington St., Versailles, IN
    • Catered by The Rolling Pin
    • Order Tickets $20 each
    • To donate auction items please contact Greg 812-584-6861

    Chris Perdue/World Winter Games T-Shirt

  • TRAINING CAMPS

    Special Olympics USA announces Killington, Vermont as the host for training camp ahead of Special Olympics World Games 2017 in Austria.

    The training camp will be held December 12-15, 2016. Killington Resort will serve as the team’s home base and several area venues will be used for training and special events, including Castleton University.

  • PHOTO GALLERY

  • NEWS AND MEDIA

  • THE LOGO

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    EMOTIONAL: THE INFLAMED HEART

    The heart stands for love, passion, helpfulness, feeling, power, compassion, empathy, understanding, community vitality. The heart implies values and virtues that interconnect life and drive forward the with and for one another.

    POTENTIAL & DYNAMICS

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    • leading together
    • compacting
    • protective
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    THE FLAMES

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