SPIRIT GAMES SET FOR SATURDAY.Byline: Carol Rock Staff Writer NEWHALL - Newhall Park will be the site of the second annual Santa Clarita Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, Special Olympics Special Olympics International sports program for people with intellectual disability. It provides year-round training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type summer and winter sports for participants. Spirit Games on Saturday. Nearly 1,000 developmentally disabled athletes are expected to participate, along with 600 volunteers who will handle everything from checking in athletes and giving hugs to event finishers to presenting awards. Athletes will earn gold, silver and bronze medals and placement ribbons based on their performance. Opening ceremonies, which will be emceed by weatherman Garth Kemp from KABC KABC Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (Channel 7), begin at 9 a.m. on the track at Hart High School Hart High School may refer to:
Awards for Coach of the Year and Family of the Year will be given, along with the coveted cov·et v. cov·et·ed, cov·et·ing, cov·ets v.tr. 1. To feel blameworthy desire for (that which is another's). See Synonyms at envy. 2. To wish for longingly. See Synonyms at desire. Don Zennie Annual Service Award, presented by Zennie himself, who brought the Special Olympics to Santa Clarita several years ago. After opening ceremonies, athletes will disperse to nearby locations for their respective sports - aquatics at the Newhall Park pool, bocce ball at Newhall Park, golf at Vista Valencia Golf Course, track and field at Hart High and basketball in the gyms at Hart, Placerita and the Boys & Girls Club in Newhall Park. The Olympic Village at Newhall Park and all of the sporting events are open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., free of charge. The village will feature music, food, inflatable and carnival games, crafts and more throughout the day. ``It's a very rewarding experience,'' said Shauna Bird, who is coordinating volunteers for the games. ``The athletes really look up to the coaches, and you can see the appreciation in their eyes and in their smiles. It's just an incredible experience, as much for the coaches and volunteers as it is for the athletes themselves.'' Santa Clarita Valley The Santa Clarita Valley is the valley of the Santa Clara River in Southern California. It stretches through Los Angeles County and Ventura County. Its main population center is the city of Santa Clarita. The valley was part of the 48,612-acre (19,672. Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and athletic competition for children ages 8 and above and adults with mental retardation mental retardation, below average level of intellectual functioning, usually defined by an IQ of below 70 to 75, combined with limitations in the skills necessary for daily living. , giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympic athletes and their community. |
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