Special Olympics coming back to the Big Mountain

Special Olympics Montana, a 38 year-old movement that enables children and adults with intellectual disabilities to train for life through sports, will conduct its State Winter Games on Feb. 22-24 at Whitefish Mountain Resort.

This is the 14th consecutive year that the State Winter Games will be held on Big Mountain. Opening ceremonies will include a parade of athletes through downtown Whitefish on Sunday, Feb. 22, at 4 p.m. Whitefish Boy Scout Troop 1936 will be the color guard for the parade.

A total of 315 athletes, 35 unified partners and 150 coaches/chaperones from more than 25 teams are expected to compete in four different sports over a three-day period — alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and beginner alpine snowboarding.

This year will also see the introduction of advance slalom and advance giant slalom on the slopes near Chair 2. In addition, a one-day floor hockey team competition will take place at The Wave.

As an athlete-centered, family-based and volunteer-driven organization, Special Olympics Montana relies almost exclusively on the support of community volunteers, businesses and service organizations for leadership, planning and preparation, in-kind and financial gifts.

The roles and duties are many, requiring upwards of 250 volunteers to organize and prepare for the games. For volunteer inquiries, contact Karen Kimball at 406-837-0319 or e-mail dryfly@centurytel.net.

To learn more about Special Olympics Montana, contact Jim Lawrence, vice president of development, at jlawrence@somt.org or call  their headquarters at 1-800-242-6876.

Schedule of events:

Sunday, Feb. 22

1 - 3 p.m. Teams check In Whitefish Middle School gym

3 p.m. Line up for parade of athletes, First Interstate Bank

4 - 6 p.m. Opening ceremonies, Depot Park

Monday, Feb. 23

10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Floor hockey competition, The Wave

10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Time trials, alpine skiing, Big Mountain

1-3 p.m. Time trials, downhill skiing, Big Mountain

10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Time trials, cross country, Base Lodge

10 a.m. -3 p.m. Snowshoe and glide events, Base Lodge

7 - 9 p.m. Carnival and dance, Base Lodge

Tues. Feb. 24

9 - 9:30 a.m. Closing ceremonies, Base Lodge

10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Alpine skiing, Big Mountain

1-3 p.m. Downhill skiing, Big Mountain

10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Cross country, Base Lodge

10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Snowshoe and glide events, Base Lodge

1 - 3 p.m. Alpine skiing, Big Mountain

All awards except for floor hockey will be handed out at the Base Lodge on Feb. 24 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.