Special Olympics USA is proud to announce Killington, Vermont and Castleton University as the site of its one and only team training camp, prior to when it will send a 210 member delegation to represent the United States at the 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games, being held March 18-25, 2017 in Austria.
The training camp will be held December 12-15, 2016. Killington Resort will serve as the team’s home base and Castleton will host speed and figure skating at Spartan Arena and floor hockey in the Spartan Athletic Complex.
"We are proud of our long relationship with Special Olympics Vermont," said Castleton President Dave Wolk. "And so grateful for the opportunity to host these wonderful athletes on our campus, giving them the opportunity to train to compete at the highest level while welcoming them with the warm embrace of our loving family."
Special Olympics USA is comprised of 150 athletes, 40 coaches and approximately 20 delegation members who support team operations, for a total delegation of 210. The delegation also includes Special Olympics Unified Sports teams, where people with and without intellectual disabilities compete together, as teammates. Team members will compete in seven sports: alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, figure skating, floor hockey, snowboarding, snowshoeing and speed skating.
While the second-ever Special Olympics International Winter Games were held at Smuggler’s Notch in Vermont in 1981, this is the first time the Special Olympics USA training camp has been held in the state.
In addition to creating a positive economic impact for the greater Killington region through hotel room nights, tourism and direct spending to produce the camp, event organizers hope the camp will leave a legacy of increased awareness of and support for Special Olympics Vermont.
Read the full Special Olympics USA release here.