Maryland Special Olympics Winter Games
The 2016 Maryland Special Olympics Winter Games were held on Monday and Tuesday at the Whitetail Ski Resort.
-
- Paul Howard Jr. of Baltimore, who skis with the Carroll county team, raises his arms at the finish line in a slalom event at the winter 2016 Maryland Special Olympics, which was held at Whitetail Ski Resort. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)
-
- Kurt Dotterweich of the eastern shore receives a gold medal in a snowshoe event at the winter 2016 Maryland Special Olympics, which was held at Whitetail Ski Resort. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)
-
- Detective Deborah Sauriol-Inoni of the Annapolis police department, a volunteer, gets a hug from Anthony “Stormy” Zanfordino of Charles County, just after receiving his gold medal in a snowshoe event at the winter 2016 Special Olympics, which was held at Whitetail Ski Resort. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)
-
- Andy Robillard of Middletown MD holds his gold medal, from the unified advanced slalom event, at the winter 2016 Maryland Special Olympics, which was held at Whitetail Ski Resort. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)
-
- Participants in a snowshoe race run toward the fininsh line at the winter 2016 Maryland Special Olympics, which was held at Whitetail Ski Resort. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)
-
- Skiers ride the lift on a foggy afternoon at the winter 2016 Maryland Special Olympics, which was held at Whitetail Ski Resort. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)
-
- Janee McAllister, 10 of Baltimore, skis in the Super Glide event at the winter 2016 Special Olympics, which was held at Whitetail Ski Resort. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)
-
- Sam Shay, 14 of Crownsville, looks happy on the medal stand after winning a gold medal in skiing at the winter 2016 Maryland Special Olympics, which was held at Whitetail Ski Resort. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)
-
- Ryan Drimal, 8 of Berlin MD, gets some encouragement from his parents, Rob, left, and Stephanie, right, at the winter 2016 Special Olympics, which was held at Whitetail Ski Resort. Ryan participated in the Super Glide ski event. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)
-
- Nicole Hurley of Carroll County smiles as she gets some help putting on her snowshoes at the winter 2016 Maryland Special Olympics, which was held at Whitetail Ski Resort. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)
-
- Paul Howard Jr. of Baltimore, who skis with the Carroll county team, crosses the finish line in a slalom event at the winter 2016 Maryland Special Olympics, which was held at Whitetail Ski Resort. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)
-
- Coach Tim Collard, left, high-fives skier Paul Howard Jr. of Baltimore, who skis with the Carroll county team, after he crossed the finish line in a slalom event at the winter 2016 Maryland Special Olympics, which was held at Whitetail Ski Resort. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)
-
- Tetyana Bielaeva, left, of the eastern shore gets a hug from Betsy Silver, right, at the winter 2016 Maryland Special Olympics, which was held at Whitetail Ski Resort. She had just completed the super glide event. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)
-
- Anthony “Stormy” Zanfordino of Charles County hugs a volunteer police officer at the winter 2016 Special Olympics, which was held at Whitetail Ski Resort. Anthony had just received a gold medal in a snowshoe event. (Barbara Haddock Taylor/Baltimore Sun)
Photos and text by Barbara Haddock Taylor
107 alpine skiers and 77 snow shoe athletes, along with scores of volunteers, coaches, parents and friends participated in the events.
Special Olympics started in the 1960s with a summer day camp that was run by Eunice and Sargent Shriver in the backyard of their Maryland home. Since the first international competition that was held in 1968, the Special Olympics have grown into a global movement.
Their mission, according to James C. Schmutz, President and CEO of the Maryland chapter, is to provide year-round sports training for people 8 years or older who have intellectual disabilities, “giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship.”
Donors and sponsors raise millions of dollars that enable the athletes to participate free of charge. In 2015, the Maryland law enforcement community raised $3 million dollars for Maryland athletes.
“The intrinsic value of these games is about more than faster times and medals, “according to Schmutz. “Our athletes are creating a world where opportunity is not limited by disability.”
Baltimore neighborhoods
Baltimore street photographers
Year in review
Freddie Gray: protests, aftermath
24 hours with...
A. Aubrey Bodine
Viewing Baltimore from above
Jason Schriml
Feb 27, 2016 @ 09:58:11
Thank you for capturing the spirit of the games.
Love the photos.