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National Games
Fact Sheet

For Immediate Release
Date:               June 7, 2006

Contacts:         
Donna Ham, Public Relations Director, 918-481-1234
Derek Cain, Development Dir., 918-481-1234

           
Special Olympics Oklahoma Sending 53 Athletes to
USA National Games in Ames, Iowa

Tulsa, Okla.      53 Special Olympics Oklahoma Athletes, accompanied by 15 Coaches and 3 Delegates, will compete at the 2006 National Games July 2 through 7, 2006 in Ames, Iowa at Iowa State University. Athletes will depart Tulsa from Mercury Air at Tulsa International Airport on July 1 and return on July 8.

Oklahoma athletes will compete in Aquatics, Basketball, Bocce, Unified Bocce®, Bowling, Golf, Unified Golf®, Powerlifting, Athletics, and Unified Softball®. Team Oklahoma athletes and coaches are from Ada, Arcadia, Ardmore, Camargo, Durant, Edmond, Enid, Guthrie, Holdenville, Lawton, Midwest City, Moore, Muskogee, Newalla, Norman, Oklahoma City, Pauls Valley, Ponca City, Pryor, Stillwater, Tahlequah, Tulsa, Vici, Wann, and Yukon.

The 2006 Special Olympics USA National Summer Games, the first-ever U.S. National Games, are expected to bring 3,000 Special Olympics athletes from across the United States, as well as more than 1,000 coaches and official delegates, and 9,000 members and friends. Competition will be held at Iowa State University and in the central Iowa area.

To make contributions to sponsor an athlete for 2006 competitions and events, please call 1-800-722-9004 or visit the website at www.sook.org. For more information about the 2006 Special Olympics USA National Summer Games, visit www.2006nationalgames.org.

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Special Olympics Oklahoma
The Mission of Special Olympics is to provide a year-round program of sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities and other closely related developmental disabilities. Thanks to Oklahomans, more than 9,200 Special Olympics athletes participate in more than 100 competitions and events on an annual basis. Competition is offered in 16 official sports. More than 1,700 coaches devote their time and experience to the athletes. There are thousands of volunteer opportunities available annually. Visit www.sook.org or call 800-722-9004 for more information.

Unified Sports®
Unified Sports is a pioneer program that combines approximately equal numbers of athletes with and without intellectual disabilities, of similar age and ability, on teams that compete against other Unified Sports teams. Unified Sports is an important program because it expands sports opportunities for athletes seeking new challenges and dramatically increases integration in the community.

Special Olympics Oklahoma
6835 S. Canton Avenue
Tulsa, OK 74136-3429
+1 (918) 481-1234
Fax: +1 (918) 496-1515

Oklahoma City Office:
3701 SE 15th Street
Del City, Oklahoma 73115
+1 (405) 670-3456
Fax: +1 (405) 670-3456