 June 14, 2003
Special Olympics Alaska is holding its 2003 Summer Games in Anchorage, Alaska from June 13th to 15th. Over 300 athletes from 10 communities around the state will compete in basketball, gymnastics, track, powerlifting, and aquatics and to attend clinics in bocce and golf. 
Most of the Special Olympics 2003 Alaska Summer Games athletic competitions in Anchorage will take place throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday, June 14th and 15th at West High School. Venues for the events include West High School and the Anchorage Gymnastics Center. The closing ceremonies for the Alaska Summer Games are scheduled for approximately 6:45 p.m. on Sunday at West High School. According to information provided by Special Olympics Alaska's web site, a BBQ was held at the new Special Olympics Alaska building to welcome the athletes from around the state. The Alaska Summer Games opening ceremonies were held at 7 p.m. on Friday. A fly-over was sponsored by the United States Air Force and entertainment at the opening ceremony was provided by Full Tilt and included a performance by the Irish Dance Academy of Alaska. The keynote speaker for the opening ceremonies was Maria Downey from KTUU - Channel 2 News. Downey will be accompanying Alaska's 23 Team USA athletes to Dublin, Ireland where they will compete in the World Games.
Three of Alaska's 23 Team USA athletes selected to participate in the world summer games are from Ketchikan - Josh Cohen, Jamie Fitzgerald and Adam Fitzgerald. The 2003 Special Olympics Team USA participating in the World Summer Games consists of approximately 1,000 athletes and 300 coaches representing all 50 United States and the District of Columbia at the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Dublin, Ireland from June 20th - June 29th. This marks the first time this major event will be held outside of the United States. Over 160 countries will unite, competing in the largest sporting event in the world in the year 2003. According to information provided by Special Olympics Team USA, over 3,500 Special Olympics Team USA family members and friends are expected to travel to Ireland to cheer for their athletes sharing in one of the biggest moments in their lives. Worldwide, approximately 7,000 athletes, 3,000 coaches and official delegates, 28,000 family members and friends, and 500,000 spectators are expected to be in Dublin to celebrate and be a part of the Games.
For more information, schedules and to follow the results of the competition, visit these web sites:
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