[Photo provided]
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Trinity Hogben, grade 10, and Tiffany Weiler, grade 12, were selected to be part of the Special Olympics New York delegation and to attend the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games this summer in Seattle, Washington, participating in the first ever Youth Leadership Experience. The Youth Leadership Experience will give students with and without intellectual disabilities a chance to serve a meaningful role in their state’s delegation, while also learning and experiencing what it takes to put on a largescale event and all of the key roles played by volunteers.
“Special Olympics New York is excited to have Trinity and Tiffany representing us and all of the youth leaders involved in our Unified Champion Schools program. They are great examples of what it means to live unified,” according to Nathan Johnson, Director of Unified Sports, Special Olympics New York.
Each day, Youth Leadership Experience participants will have different service learning experiences including volunteering in the Fan Zone, reporting through social media from the competitions, leading Special Olympics Youth Athletes activities, shadowing key volunteers or delegation staff and learning more about interscholastic and collegiate Unified Sports. In addition, Youth Leadership Experience participants will take part in all ceremonial events with their state delegation, Team New York! Trinity and Tiffany will be joined by Colleen Belanger, Saratoga Springs High School Physical Education teacher as part of the 80-person New York delegation.
The 2018 Special Olympics USA Games will be held in Seattle, Washington July 1-6, 2018. More than 4,000 participants representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia, along with the support of tens of thousands of volunteers and spectators, will compete in 14 Olympictype team and individual sports. The 2018 Special Olympics USA Games will celebrate the Special Olympics movement and its 50th anniversary; promote the ideals of acceptance and inclusion through sport; and showcase athletes from throughout the U.S. and the abilities of people with intellectual disabilities. The 2018 USA Games will also highlight Special Olympics’ work in sport, education, health and community-building.
