NEWS RELEASE                         February 3, 2009   

Media Advisory

Lt. Governor Owen to bid good luck
to Special Olympics winter game athletes

SEATTLE – Fourteen Washington athletes are heading to next week’s Special Olympics World Winter Games in Boise, and Lt. Gov. Brad Owen will see them off at a ceremony Feb. 4 prior to their departure from Seattle Tacoma International Airport.

The public ceremony to honor the Team Special Olympics Washington (SOWA), along with their coaches and supporters, will start at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the The Conference Center at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (main terminal building). The lieutenant governor will address the group and wish them well as the team heads off to the games Feb. 7 to 13. Members of the news media are welcome to attend.  

Washington’s 14 Special Olympians will join more than 2,500 other athletes representing 100 countries from around the world.

“These Washington Olympians have worked very hard and we wish them every success possible as they compete in the winter games in Boise,” Owen said. “They are an inspiration to all of us.”

Team Special Olympics Washington will compete in alpine and cross-country skiing, figure skating and snowboarding. They include Katie Meyer, Kirkland; Delight Andresen, Sea-Tac; Ian Dews, Sammamish; Curtis Littrell, Pasco;  Stefanie Sarason, Bainbridge Island; Brandy Phillips, Loon Lake; Timothy Rainville, Seattle; Kevin Vandeventer, Chattaroy; Sarah Fullen, Colbert; Kristie Clark, Everett; Vicken Ouyarian, Mukilteo; Chantel Swanson,  Hunters;  Craig Daly, Normandy Park and Aaron Evans, Spokane Valley. Their coaches are Jenny Fry of Seattle and Joe Hampson of Edmonds.

SOWA has 6000 athletes in the program statewide and 7000 volunteers.         

Media inquiries:

Office of Lt. Governor:  Brian Dirks, communications director, 360.786.7707 or dirks.brian@leg.wa.gov