Check out this inspiring and heart warming story written by Special Olympics New Jersey athlete, Andrea Weisbard. Andrea is a three-sport athlete: soccer, basketball and bocce. She is also an abstract artist and textile designer with ADD.
READ THE STORY HERE: http://www.specialolympics.org/Stories/General/Memories_of_My_Dad.aspx
Here is a Throwback Thursday to last week at the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games! Learn more and donate to Team Louisiana here.
“We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face… we must do that which we think we cannot.”
~ Eleanor Roosevelt
On June 30 at 6PM CST, a first in the history of Special Olympics USA Games will occur and we want YOU to be a part of it! Thanks to USA Games Founding Partners WWE and 21st Century Fox, the first-ever nationally televised show, recapping a USA Games, will be broadcast on FOX Sports 1.
“Celebrating Champions” is a one-hour television event that will celebrate the Games, highlight competition, ceremonies, special events, Special Olympics initiatives, and most importantly, will show the Games through the eyes of the athletes themselves. One of the featured athletes, is Louisiana’s very own, Theodore Bazille! Check out the teaser video here: Post by Special Olympics USA Games.
We want to get as many people as possible to tune in so we are asking YOU to join us in getting the word out!
What do you need to do? Watch!
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The final awards are in! Team Louisiana did phenomenal at the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games and we couldn’t be more proud of them! They are bringing home 47 gold medals, 36 silver medals, 34 bronze medals, 43 fourth place ribbons, 10 fifth place ribbons, 6 sixth place ribbons, 3 seventh place ribbons and 3 eighth place ribbons. That is a grand total of 182 awards!!!
– To see all of the individual scores and results, please click here.
– To view the photo album from this week, please visit our photo album.
It is Day 5 of the 2014 USA Games and Team Louisiana is doing fantastic! As of now, we have won 14 gold medals, 13 silver medals, 10 bronze medals, 21 fourth place ribbons, 8 fifth place ribbons, 4 sixth place ribbons, and 2 seventh place ribbons. View the results. The games are still happening and there are plenty more to come!
Unified Basketball is still undefeated and Unifies Flag Football is in the top division. Can’t make it to the games? Check out our updated photo album on Facebook, get live updates on Twitter, and be sure to check Instagram for the latest pictures!
GO TEAM LOUISIANA!
“Being from Louisiana, Cayenne Pepper keeps them loose, teammates keep it fun.”
– Ted Sandoz, head coach, Unified flag football, Louisiana
Coach Sandoz couldn’t have said it any better. Team Louisiana’s Unified Flag Football team has been putting on quite a show at the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games. The team has been showing off their dance moves during half time. Yesterday, the team was losing going into the half, but once they got done dancing, they came back and won the game!
The 2014 Special Olympics USA Games are underway! It has been a remarkable 3 days and the best is yet to come! All together 108 athletes, coaches, unified partners, youth leaders and additional staff went to represent our great state. Here is a recap:
Saturday, 12 of our team members flew in style courtesy of the Citation Special Olympics Airlift, 1/2 our delegation made it to New Jersey with no problem and the other 1/2 spent a few extra hours in the New Orleans airport (which made for some interesting stories and photos.) All in all, our delegation arrived safely!
Sunday, several of our sports scoped out the venues and practiced. That night, they participated in the spectacular Opening Ceremonies where the cauldron was lit and the games officially declared open!
Monday, preliminary competitions began for Team Louisiana.
– Highlights include: Two bowlers, Joshua Racca and Donnie Guillory bowled turkeys, Gerren Brown even bowled 4 strikes in a row. Unified Flag Football won against Delaware 25-12. Aquatics did great in the 4×25 medley relay. Unified Basketball won against Maryland 33-24 and against Tennesse 34-17.
Stay up to date with Team Louisiana on our social media channels facebook, twitter and instagram. Check out the pictures here.
To support Team Louisiana while they are in New Jersey, you can donate here.
Before a single Special Olympics athlete approaches the starting line of the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games June 14-21 in New Jersey, an elite group of individuals will serve as the “Guardians of the Flame” on a once in a lifetime journey. Officer James Virgil with the Kenner Police Department is among those who will make up the prestigious “Final Leg” team of the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games Law Enforcement Torch Run.
The Final Leg team consists of 52 law enforcement officers representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia and six Special Olympics athletes who will conduct multiple, extensive runs and ceremonies in cities, towns and communities in and around New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, June 11-15, raising awareness about the 2014 USA Games and Special Olympics. The Final Leg culminates with the Final Leg Team delivering the Flame of Hope to the 2014 USA Games’ Opening Ceremony at Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on June 15. Learn more about the 2014 SO USA Games.
Learn more about the Louisiana Law Enforcement Torch Run
Learn more about the International Law Enforcement Torch Run
Do you want to stay connected with the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games? If so, head over to the USA Games website or go to the App Store or Google Play so you can download the official app today! The app features event info, schedules, maps, social media links, and athlete profiles! This is a great way to stay connected to USA Games from any location.
When you download the app, be sure to search the athlete profiles for Team Louisiana!
Today, we had a house full of volunteers helping pack our 100+ athletes, partners, and coaches bags for the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games. We want to give a huge thanks to all that helped! 
There is still time to donate to Team Louisiana. You can do so by clicking here or calling 1-800-345-6644.
Meet Team Louisiana here.
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