courtesy Special Olympics Hawaii Facebook page
HAWAII – Sochi, Russia is the center of the Olympic universe at the moment, but there are at least twelve athletes from around the state of Hawaii who are focused on New Jersey, instead.
Hui O Hawai‘i will make the journey in June in order to participate in the 2014 USA National Games. They will join 3,500 Special Olympics athletes from around the country, competing in 16 sports “before tens of thousands of spectators and volunteers” according to a Special Olympics Hawai‘i media release.
“Many of our athletes have trained and competed with Special Olympics Hawai‘i for more than a decade,” said Nancy Bottelo, Special Olympics Hawai‘i president and CEO, “and one of the amazing opportunities which our organization is able to provide is the once in a lifetime opportunity not just to represent their community, but our state at a national level.”
There are two athletes from Hawaii Island joining the Hui. From the Special Olympics Hawaii media release:
Kalani Gonsalves will represent Hui O Hawai‘i in track and field A resident of Hilo, Gonsalves has competed with Special Olympics Hawai‘i for 12 years. Thanks to his involvement with Special Olympics he has been able to apply the lessons he learned on the field to hold employment with the Arc of Hilo and participate with hula halau, Halau O Kekuhi.
Daylan Toribio is a six-year Special Olympics athlete, who will represent the state in track and field. A resident of Kurtistown, Toribio is a six-year Special Olympics participant.Special Olympics Hawaii media release – Feb. 18, 2014
Its not a free ride. The cost to send one athlete to the USA National Games is more than $2,500. Special Olympics Hawai‘i is accepting tax-deductible donations on their website to defray expenses. Supporters can also donate their HawaiianMiles to Special Olympics Hawai‘i to help reduce the cost of transportation.
The organization says the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games will celebrate the Special Olympics movement while promoting the ideals of acceptance and inclusion through sport and highlighting the abilities of athletes with intellectual disabilities.
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by DaveCorrigan
on at
STORY SUMMARY
HAWAII – Sochi, Russia is the center of the Olympic universe at the moment, but there are at least twelve athletes from around the state of Hawaii who are focused on New Jersey, instead. Hui O Hawai‘i will make the journey in June in order to participate in the 2014 USA National Games. They will […]