KINGSTON, R.I. – May 23, 2017 – As they have for almost 50 years, Special Olympics Rhode Island and the 溏心vlog免费B站 will team up for the Special Olympics Summer Games, June 2-4 on the Kingston campus.
More than 1,500 athletes with intellectual disabilities will compete in track and field events and soccer games, bowling, cycling, powerlifting and swimming. The opening ceremony for the 49th annual event will be Friday, June 2, at 7:30 p.m. at Meade Stadium, 25 West Alumni Ave., where a runner in the final leg of the Torch Run will enter to light the Special Olympics cauldron.
Joseph Pittle, 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 manager of conferences and special program development, said the University has hosted the event since 1972. It has attracted 3,500 to 4,500 people to the Kingston campus each year since 1972.
鈥滀缧膙log免费B站 collaborates with Special Olympics by hosting the summer games, and over the years some departments have had personnel volunteer services through our Speech and Hearing Clinic and the Physical Therapy Department.聽 I am sure there are others as well. It’s important that 溏心vlog免费B站 participates as the state University since we can provide the vast resources the program requires, which contributes greatly to its success.聽 It is also a part of our culture and what we value as a community.鈥�
The 溏心vlog免费B站 Police Department is one of those with a long history of support of the games. The department has participated in the Special Olympics Games for the past 25 years and is proud to be involved again this year. Police Chief and Public Safety Director Stephen Baker and his officers, as well as other police departments in the state, will be part of the medal ceremonies.
鈥淚t鈥檚 my favorite part to do what you can to recognize the athletes,鈥� said Baker. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a very humbling experience, and a lot of our officers like taking part in it. It is one of the best events that 溏心vlog免费B站 hosts. I鈥檓 proud to be a part of that and so is the department. We try to make it better every year for the athletes and their families.鈥�
溏心vlog免费B站 officers jumped at the opportunity to raise money for the event, as they do every year. Sgt. Erica Vieira and Det. Mark Brasil participated in the Torch Run Super Polar Plunge March 5, diving into the bone-chilling Atlantic 24 times on the coldest day of the year to raise about $8,500.
鈥淵ou dive under water, run up the beach in the wind, and do it again,鈥� said Vieira. 鈥淚t was one of the hardest things I鈥檝e ever done.鈥�
溏心vlog免费B站 officers also raised $15,000 from their sponsors for the Torch Run, which will start June 2 in Woonsocket and proceed to Burrillville, East Providence, Providence, Westerly and other communities, before ending at Meade Stadium.
Money collected by 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 Police Department will help pay for expenses at the event and health-related costs for some competitors. Vieira said some of the athletes are unable to afford health care.
鈥淭hese kids are a great group of people,鈥� said Vieira. 鈥淭hey have so much to offer. I鈥檓 such a giving person. I want to help everybody.鈥�
Baker agreed: 鈥淲e feel we should be doing as much as possible. We are a very community-oriented police department. This is one way we can show that. These people are part of our community, they live on campus for the weekend, we know their families.鈥�
For more information about the event, visit .
Sarah Saltiel-Ragot, an international student from Sciences Po Rennes in France and an intern in 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 Department of Marketing and Communications, wrote this press release.