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| Laura Lemieux of Berlin |
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| Mark Lagueux of Laconia (courtesy photos) |
Three Coaches, Police Officer Also Headed to World Winter Games in Korea
MANCHESTER –
Two athletes from New Hampshire will be joining nearly 3,300
fellow athletes and teams from over 100 nations around the world in
Pyeongchang, South Korea, from January 29 to February 5, 2013. The 2013 Special
Olympics World Winter Games will feature world-class competition in alpine
skiing, cross-country skiing, figure skating, snowboarding and speed skating,
among other sports.
The two athletes from New Hampshire will be competing are
Laura Lemieux of Berlin, who will compete in cross-country skiing, and Mark
Lagueux of Laconia, who will compete in the sport of alpine skiing.
“Our athletes train and compete year-round and work very
hard to achieve personal bests and we are very proud that two athletes from our
state will represent our country next year in South Korea,” said Mary Conroy,
president of Special Olympics New Hampshire.
In addition to the athletes selected, NH coaches were also
selected from applicants all over the United States. Robin O’Dougherty of
Hillsboro and Sue By of Weare will both be traveling to South Korea as alpine
skiing coaches, and Missie Rodriguez of Canaan will be one of six snowshoe
coaches for Special Olympics Team USA.
“We are grateful to have such amazing coaches in our state,
and honored that three of them have been selected to coach at the World Games,”
said Conroy.
Before heading to South Korea in January of next year, both
Lemieux and Lagueux along with athletes and coaches from around the country,
will travel to Lake Placid, New York in December for a training camp. During
the five-day training, athletes will meet the rest of their team while
preparing for the 10th Special Olympics World Winter Games.
Leading up to the Opening Ceremonies of the World Games will
be the Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg for Special Olympics. As an
important part of the World Games, the torch run will heighten awareness and
take the message of Special Olympics to every corner of Korea. Officers from
around the world are selected to participate. One of the officers is New
Hampshire’s own, Mike Murray of Merrimack. This marks the second time Murray
has participated in the final leg he was also part of the 2007 World Summer
Games in China.
Every two years, thousands of Special Olympics athletes
worldwide come together to showcase their athletic skills and celebrate the
spirit of Special Olympics. Alternating between Summer Games and Winter Games,
Special Olympics World Games bring public attention to the talents and
capabilities of people with intellectual disabilities, helping to change
attitudes and break down barriers that excluded them from the mainstream of the
community.
The Pyeongchang Games will also provide a venue for global
discussions and action on the impact Special Olympics can have on the lives of
people with intellectual disabilities. More than 200 million people worldwide
have an intellectual disability, making it the largest disability group
worldwide.
Special Olympics New Hampshire (SONH) is an accredited
program of Special Olympics International (SOI) and is part of an international
global movement that changes lives by encouraging and empowering people with
intellectual disabilities, promoting acceptance for all, and fostering
communities of understanding and respect worldwide. SONH was founded in 1970
with the first State Summer Games at Phillips Exeter Academy and the first
Special Olympics New Hampshire Winter Games were held at Eastman in Grantham,
NH in 1977.
For more information about Special Olympics New Hampshire
visit www.sonh.org or call 603-624-1250.
To learn more about the 2013 Special Olympics World Winter
Games please visit http://www.2013sopoc.org/hb/en.
