Winter games off to good start

It was a busy and exciting Friday morning at the Dome Arena as Special Olympics staff and volunteers prepared for the hundreds of athletes coming in from across the state.

“This is a great thing for both our staff and volunteers and hen of course the athletes,” said Steve Fuller, vice president for programming.

Special Olympics athletes have been preparing for the state winter games since November. Early Friday, staff and local volunteers set up for the biggest event in the state winter games -- floor hockey.

“It's played with a little felt puck and sticks that have no blades on them except the goalie blades,” said Neal Johnson, the president and CEO for Special Olympics New York. “It's a really fast and exciting game."

About 800 athletes and 200 coaches will compete in other events like alpine and nordic skiiing, snowshoeing, figure skating and speed skating. This is the first time in eight years the state winter games have come to Rochester, and close to 500 local volunteers are helping to make the event a success.

“Rochester's been very good,” Johnson said. “We depend a lot on community for

volunteers for corporate supporters, and Rochester's always done well in supporting our athletes and our mission."

Now all the games need are some more fans.

“If you want to see a great sport, come out here, come out to Swain, come out to the skating institute and watch our athletes compete,” Johnson said. “You'll enjoy it."

The Special Olympics winter games officially got underway Friday night at 8 o'clock with an opening ceremony at the Auditorium Theater.