AFT Supports Special Olympians Competing in Winter Games
The AFT continued its support of the Special Olympics program with an event in Utah to send off the U.S. athletes to the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Idaho. The AFT and its members have long been involved with the Special Olympics, and, for two years now, the national union has supported the U.S. Special Olympians by helping fund transportation costs for the athletes to attend the games and for their transportation during the games. This year's send-off event on Feb. 5 in Salt Lake City featured remarks by AFT Utah president Debbie White. "You should be proud of yourself for having the desire and the commitment to be part of Team USA. It takes great courage to travel so far and compete against athletes from all over the world," said White. The games, which were held Feb. 7-13, attracted more than 2,000 athletes from nearly 100 countries, as well as thousands of family members, coaches, volunteers and spectators. [Read more.]