I'M READY!

IN A BIG WAY.

I'M SO PROUD.

>> WHAT I'M EXCITED ABOUT THE MOST TOMORROW IS COMPETITION.

AND JUST SEEING A LOT OF PEOPLE AND STUFF, OLD FRIENDS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

BEING ABLE TO MEET NEW PEOPLE AND STUFF.

AND ENCOURAGING OTHER PEOPLE AND GETTING ENCOURAGED.

>> I'M EXCITED!

I'M EXCITED!

>> I'M EXCITED BUT NERVOUS.

>> IT'S A LOT OF FUN BECAUSE LIKE ALL MY FRIENDS DID IT.

SO LIKE I WANTED TO TRY IT.

SO, YEAH... >> I'M JUST EXCITED TO SEE THE ATHLETES.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY.

IT'S STATEWIDE, 600 ATHLETES AND COACHES FROM ACROSS THE STATE.

I LOVE ANY CHANCE THAT PEOPLE GET TO SEE WHAT SPECIAL OLYMPICS IS REALLY ALL ABOUT AND THEY GET TO SEE PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DIFFERENCES THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE HAD THEIR OWN FEELINGS OR PERCEPTIONS ABOUT AND WHEN THEY SEE THEM OUT THERE COMPETING IN AUTHENTIC COMPETITIVE SPORTS, I KNOW IT CHANGES THEIR LIVES, BLOWS THEIR MIND AND I'M EXCITED TO SHOW THEM OFF.

>> SPECIAL OLYMPICS IS MORE THAN THIS COMPETITION.

YOU ARE COMING INTO A FAMILY.

WE LOVE YOU HERE.

NO COLOR, NO RACE, NO CREED, AND HONESTLY, DISABILITIES DON'T MATTER.

WE WILL SEE YOU AS A NORMAL PERSON.

>> HAPPY, JOYOUS, BEST FRIENDS AND... >> GETTING OUT THERE AND DOING YOUR BEST AND NO MATTER WHAT PLACE YOU COME HOME WITH, YOU ARE STILL A CHAMPION.

>> ON A FRIGID FRIDAY IN FEBRUARY, AROUND 600 ATHLETES AND COACHES FROM ACROSS NEW YORK ARRIVED IN SYRACUSE FOR THE OPENING CEREMONIES OF THE STATE'S 2024 WINTER SPECIAL OLYMPICS GAMES.

THEY CAME HERE TO THE CENTER OF NEW YORK STATE FOR A WEEKEND OF COMPETITION AND CAMARADERIE.

SKIERS, FIGURE SKATERS AND SNOW SHOERS CAME TO SHOWCASE THEIR SKILLS, JOINED BY ATHLETES COMPETING IN A SPORT ADDED TO THE GAMES, EACH ATHLETE GATHERED AT THE SYRACUSE ON CENTER GETTING A CHANCE TO CATCH UP WITH FRIENDS.

EVERYONE THERE HAS A STORY TO TELL.

STORIES THAT SHINE THROUGH THEIR BRAVERY, SPORTSMANSHIP AND RESPECT FOR EACH OTHER.

THE COMPETITION STARTS SATURDAY MORNING.

AND TONIGHT, YOU CAN FEEL THE EXCITEMENT, TENSION, ASPIRATIONS AND NERVES.

ALL THE EFFORT THESE ATHLETES HAVE PUT IN IN THE LAST YEAR LEADS UP TO THIS WEEKEND.

THESE GAMES WILL CHALLENGE THEIR ENDURANCE, TEST THEIR ABILITY AND DEMAND THEIR COURAGE; EXACTLY WHAT THESE ATHLETES WANT.

>> ATHLETES, COACHES, AND FRIENDS OF SPECIAL OLYMPICS NEW YORK, WELCOME TO SYRACUSE FOR THE 2024 SPECIAL OLYMPICS WINTER GAMES!

>> HI!

>> HI!

[ CHEERING ] >> WELCOME TO SYRACUSE!

I'M SO EXCITED.

>> I'M SO EXCITED!

WHOO!

>> HOW ABOUT WE BRING UP ONE OF CENTRAL NEW YORK'S VERY OWN ATHLETES, ONE WHO IS NO STRANGER TO HARD WORK AND DEDICATION.

PLEASE COME ON UP, ATHLETE RYAN GOLDACKER.

[ CHEERING ] >> I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT TO WELCOME YOU ALL TO SYRACUSE.

[ APPLAUSE ] AND THANK YOU FOR YOUR EXCITEMENT FOR THE 2024 SPECIAL OLYMPICS NEW YORK WINTER GAMES!

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] I CAN'T WAIT FOR A CHANCE TO SHOW OFF MY SKILLS AND HANG OUT WITH ALL MY FRIENDS.

IT'S ONE OF MY FAVORITE PARTS.

SPECIAL OLYMPICS GIVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE NOT ONLY FOR SKIING, BUT IN THE FALL, I DO GOLF AND IN THE SUMMER I DO POWER LIFTING.

[ APPLAUSE ] I WANT TO THANK ALL OUR AMAZING VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF.

WITHOUT THEM, WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE AN AWESOME OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE IN THE WINTER GAMES WE ALL LOVE.

[ APPLAUSE ] THANK YOU, EVERYONE.

LET'S GET THIS COMPETITION STARTED!

[ APPLAUSE ] >> THERE IS ONLY ONE PERSON IN THIS ROOM THAT CAN FOLLOW A SPEECH LIKE THAT.

>> AND I KNOW JUST WHO YOU MEAN.

AND WE SHOULD BRING HER UP HERE NOW.

ATHLETES, PLEASE JOIN ME IN WELCOMING OUR GOOD FRIEND, THE PRESIDENT AND C.E.O.

OF SPECIAL OLYMPICS NEW YORK STACY HENGSTERMEN.

>> I WAS JUST THINKING, WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF WINTER GAMES?

JUST YELL IT OUT.

HOW DO YOU FEEL?

>> HAPPY.

>> HAPPY.

>> EXCITED.

>> WHAT DID YOU SAY?

COMPETITION.

APPRECIATED.

I LOVE IT.

I LOVE IT.

YEAH, I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT MY WORD IS PROUD.

I AM SO PROUD OF ALL OF YOU.

MORE THAN 200 VOLUNTEERS, 600 COACHES AND CHAPERONES FROM ALL OVER.

65 ALPINE SKIERS.

WHERE ARE MY SKIERS.

THE 4 FIGURE SKATERS.

NEARLY 100 SNOW SHOERS AND FOR THE FIRST TIME WHAT HAVE WE GOT FOR THE FIRST TIME?

FLOOR BALL.

200 FLOOR BALL PLAYERS!

WHOO!

PLEASE STAY RIGHT HERE WHILE WE BRING UP FIGURE SKATER CORI PIELS THAT WILL LEAD US IN THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS ATHLETES OATH.

PLEASE COME ON UP, CORI.

>> WHAT A PRIVILEGE TO HAVE NOT ONE, BUT TWO NATIONAL SUPER STARS ON STAGE TO LEAD US IN THE OATH.

DID YOU KNOW THAT CORI IS GOING TO SKATE AT THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS WORLD GAMES IN ITALY NEXT YEAR?

[ CHEERING ] CONGRATULATIONS, CORI.

WE KNOW YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE US ALL SO PROUD.

NOW, LET'S GET BACK TO BUSINESS.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW, THE ORIGIN OF THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS ATHLETE OATH, EUNICE KENNEDY SCHRIVER JOTTED DOWN THE OATH ON THE MORNING OF JULY 20, 1968.

SHE RECITED IT AT A BRIEF OPENING CEREMONY BEFORE THE START OF THE FIRST SPECIAL OLYMPICS INTERNATIONAL GAMES MORE THAN 50 YEARS LATER THESE WORDS STILL RESONATE WITH OUR ATHLETES.

OKAY, CORI AND KEVIN, TAKE IT AWAY.

>> PLEASE STAND UP.

LET ME WIN.

>> LET ME WIN.

>> BUT IF I CANNOT WIN.

>> IF CAN I NOT WIN.

>> LET ME BE BRAVE.

>> LET ME BE BRAVE.

>> IN THE ATTEMPT.

>> IN AT TEMPT.

-- IN THE ATTEMPT.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> NOW IT'S TIME FOR ONE OF MY FAVORITE SPECIAL OLYMPICS TRADITIONS: THE LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN.

HERE TO CARRY THE TORCH ARE ATHLETE WILL KUHN AND LIEUTENANT SEAN HUDDABACK.

(ROCKY THEME PLAYING) ♪ ♪ ♪ FLYING HIGH NOW ♪ ♪ FLYING HIGH NOW ♪ ♪ FLYING HIGH NOW ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> WOW, LET'S HEAR IT FOR NEW YORK'S FINEST!

WHOO!

♪ ♪ >> ALL RIGHT, EVERYBODY.

READY?

LET THE GAMES BEGIN!

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] HAVE SO MUCH FUN!

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (ROCKY THEME PLAYING) DESPITE A TOUGH WINTER IN UPSTATE NEW YORK, IT IS BITTER COLD SATURDAY MORNING AND BUSES ARE LINING UP TO DROP THE PARTICIPANTS OFF.

THESE ATHLETES WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE SPORTS ADDED TO THE GAMES THIS YEAR.

ATHLETES MAKE THE TRANSITION FROM FLOOR HOCKEY TO FLOOR BALL.

BUT THE UNCERTAINTY, SOME OF THE ANTICIPATION OF A NEW CHALLENGE.

THE BRACKETS ARE SET.

THE COACHES MEETINGS HAVE STARTED.

THE ATHLETES ARE FIRE UP FOR THE DAY AHEAD.

>> LET'S GO!

WHOO!

>> WHOO!

>> MIKE.

>> HI, MIKE.

>> LET'S GO OUT THERE AND WIN.

WIN IF CAN, IF NOT, WE STILL LOVE DOING THIS SPORT ANYWAY.

LOVE DOING THIS EVERY DAY.

>> IT'S GOING TO BE OUTSTANDING.

IT'S GOING TO BE INCREDIBLE.

I GUARANTEE IT'S GOING TO BE GREAT.

>> I DON'T KNOW.

I JUST WANT TO WIN.

PROBABLY GET GOLD.

>> AND BE HAPPY WITH EVERYTHING TODAY.

NO MATTER WHAT.

>> I JUST LOVE THE GAME.

I'M READY FOR FOR IT TODAY.

HOCKEY.

>> FLOOR 3 YELLOW JACKETS AND FLOOR 4 IS ITHACA.

AND IT IS NOW 10:16.

I WOULD LIKE TO GET MOVING AT 10:30 AND START THE FIRST GAME.

(WHISTLE BLOWS) (NATURAL SOUND) (WHISTLE.

( ♪ ♪ >> GO!

GO!

GO!

COME ON!

(WHISTLE).

>> THIS IS INSANE, GUYS, COME ON!

[ CHEERING ] >> THAT DOESN'T COUNT!

>> TEAM ONONDAGA, THE LOCAL TEAM, PLAYED HARD, BUT LOST ALL THEIR MATCHES TODAY.

YET WINNING AND LOSING SEEM TO, IN MANY WAYS, BE BESIDE THE POINT.

THE ENTIRE TEAM CAME TOGETHER THROUGH THE COMPETITION REACHING, BATTLING THEIR OPPONENTS.

WEST WIDE WOLVERINES FROM GREATER ROCHESTER WERE CROWNED CHAMPIONS!

USA!

AWFSZ!

>> THERE WAS A LITTLE TOUGH BUT WE DID GREAT.

I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO THE NEXT YEAR.

MAYBE WE CAN BE EVEN BETTER AND EVERY YEAR WE ARE JUST GETTING BETTER AND BETTER.

IT DOESN'T MATTER IF WE LOST TODAY.

IT JUST MEANS A NEW GAME FOR US EVERY TIME WE PLAY.

EVERY TIME WE PRACTICE.

WE ARE JUST GOING TO GET A LITTLE BETTER EACH TIME.

FOURTH PLACE, ONONDAGA!

>> I LOVE BEING WITH MY FRIRCHEDZ BECAUSE NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, EVEN THOUGH WE LOST,WE ARE ALWAYS GOING TO SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER.

I ALWAYS COUNT ON MY FRIENDS EVERY STEP OF THE WAY.

I LOVE BEING IN SYRACUSE BECAUSE THIS IS MY HOMETOWN.

THIS IS OUR HOME.

AND EVERYBODY ELSE, WELL THEY JUST COME HERE.

SO IT'S EVEN BETTER WHEN YOU HAVE FRIENDS THAT COME OUT AND SUPPORT YOU AND FRIENDS IN THE STANDS AND OF COURSE WE LOVE OUR SYRACUSE TEAM.

IT WORKS PRETTY WELL.

FINALLY SCORED AFTER EIGHT YEARS.

GET THE MONKEY OFF YOUR BACK.

>> TELL ME ABOUT THAT.

WHAT DID IT FEEL LIKE?

>> EXCITING.

>> NEXT YEAR I PLAN ON COMING BACK FOR FLOOR BALL.

HOPEFULLY MEDALING.

>> HOWEVER, DURING THE COMPETITION, TEAM ODGED ONONDAGA AND COACH MIKE McKEON RECEIVED SOME BIG NEWS HE IS NOW GOING TO SHARE.

>> WHAT'S THE BIG NEWS?

>> WHAT IS GOING ON?

WELL, WE HAVE A GAME IN ABOUT FIVE MINUTES.

WE ARE PLAYING THE WEST SIDE TEAM FROM ROCHESTER.

BUT WHAT I WAS JUST TELLING THE TEAM WAS, A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE CRUNCH CAME OVER AND THEY WANT US TO DROP THE PUCK AT THE CRUNCH GAME AND I HAVE HUGE HOCKEY FANS ON MY TEAM.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT ON THE ICE, DROP THE PUCK TO START THE CRUNCH GAME TONIGHT THEY'RE VERY EXCITED.

I WOULD THINK THEY'RE VERY EXCITED.

WE'LL TELL THE REST OF THE TEAM AFTERWARDS.

I HAVE ABOUT 20 TICKETS TO GO.

IF WE NEED MORE, WE CAN HAVE MORE.

IF YOU WANT TO STAY FOR THE CRURVE GAME, IT'S UP FOR YOU BUT WE ARE PROBABLY GOING TO COME BACK HERE FOR THE DANCE.

>> SURE ENOUGH, TEAM ONONDAGA WOULD GO NEXT DOOR TO THE HOME OF THE PROFESSIONAL AMERICAN HOCKEY LEAGUES SYRACUSE CRUNCH.

THEY CAME TO DROP THE PUCK.

STANDING PROUDLY AND HONORED TO REPRESENT THEIR HOMETOWN ON A STAGE LIKE THIS, YOU CAN TELL THESE WINTER GAMES MEAN SO MUCH MORE THAN THE CROSSER COLORS OF THE MEDALS.

>> FIGURE SKATING GOING ON IN THE BUILDING HERE.

THE FLOOR BALL COMPETITION NEXT DOOR AND THAT'S THE TEAM BEING RECOGNIZED AT THE MOMENT FOR THIS FIRST CEREMONIAL PUCK DROP.

GREAT JOB BY THE FOLKS IN AND THE ATHLETES INVOLVED IN THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS HERE DURING THE COURSE OF THE DAY TODAY.

BACK TO THE LINEUP STARTING ON DEFENSE... >> WE HAD TWO MATCHES TODAY.

WE DIDN'T WIN EITHER OF THE MATCHES BUT I'M SO PROUD OF MY PLAYERS.

THEY PLAYED SO WELL.

THEY WERE GOOD GAMES.

THEY WEREN'T ALL THAT CLOSE.

AGAIN, IT'S A NEW SPORT.

WE ARE JUST STAFORTING OUT AND I'M SO PROUD OF MY PLAYERS.

THEY DID SO WELL TODAY.

TODAY WAS A GOOD DAY.

THEY COME OUT AND THEY TRY THEIR HARDEST.

SOMETIMES, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A LONG DAY AT WORK AND WE HAVE PRACTICE THAT NIGHT AND I GO, DO I REALLY WANT TO COME TO PRACTICE?

I GET THERE AND THEY'RE SMILING AND PLAYING AROUND, TELL ME WHAT THEY DID DURING THE COURSE OF THE DAY.

IT MAKES MY DAY BETTER.

I REALLY LOVE BEING WITH THE ATHLETES.

I COULDN'T BE PROUDER OF THEM.

A LOT OF TIMES SOMEBODY THAT IS DIFFERENTLY ABLED, PEOPLE TAKE FOR GRANTED, THINK THAT THEY DON'T ACT AND THINK LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.

THEY ABSOLUTELY DO.

THEY HAVE THE SAME WANTS AND NEEDS AS EVERYBODY ELSE.

THEY WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT THEIR DAY.

THEY WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT THEIR EMOTIONS, TALK ABOUT HOW THEIR DAY WAS AND I LOVE SHARING THAT WITH THEM.

>> THEY ALWAYS HAVE FUN AND THAT'S THE MAIN THING, YOU KNOW.

THEY TRY AND THEY'VE TRIED THEIR BEST.

WE SOME A SHORT SEASON AS FAR AS PRACTICE.

SO THAT MADE A DIFFERENCE, TOO.

BUT THERE IS ALWAYS NEXT YEAR.

>> GREEK PEAK MOUNTAIN RESORT NESTLED 40 MILES FROM SYRACUSE IS THE VENUE FOR THE SKIING COMPETITION.

MORE THAN 100 SKIERS WILL BE PUT TO THE TEST ON THE ICY TERRAIN.

DESPITE THIS WINTER BEING ONE OF THE WARMEST RECORDED IN THIS PART OF THE STATE, TODAY IS AMONG THE COLDEST DAYS OF THE YEAR.

THAT DOES NOT STOP THESE ATHLETES OR EVEN BEGIN TO DAMPEN THEIR PASSION.

THEY HAVE TRAINED FOR THIS.

AND THE WEATHER IS COLD ENOUGH TO KEEP THE MANMADE SNOW ON THE MOUNTAIN.

COMPETITORS TIGHTEN THEIR BINDINGS, READY TO CONFRONT THE COURSE.

>> NO MATTER WHAT IT IS, YOU CAN DO IT.

IT DOESN'T MATTER.

THERE IS ALWAYS A WAY YOU CAN ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS.

I USED TO BELIEVE THAT I WOULDN'T GET VERY FAR BUT THEN I JUST KEPT PUSHING.

IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH TO GET FAR.

YOU JUST HAVE TO PUT YOUR MIND TO IT AND TRY.

>> WAIT HERE AND THEN 156 IS NEXT.

>> ON THE COURSE, RACER 104... [ CHEERING ] PUSH IT!

PUSH IT!

>> AN AWESOME RUN, MAN.

YOU WERE FLYING!

>> YOU DID GREAT BUDDY!

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ [ CHEERING ] WHOA!

[ CHEERING ] >> I'M SO PROUD OF HIM.

I'M HIS OLDER SISTER SO GETTING TO WATCH HIM FROM THE YOUNG LITTLE PERSON IN THE SHELL THAT SHE WAS TO JUST BLOSSOMING AND BECOMING A WHOLE MAN IS CRAZY.

IT MAKES YOU FEEL OLD SOMETIMES BUT I'M JUST SO PROUD.

HE DOES A PHENOMENAL JOB.

>> HOW ABOUT FOR YOU, MOM?

>> I'M SO PROUD OF HOW HARD HE WORKS.

HE LOOKS SO FORWARD TO SKI SEASON.

HE TALKS ABOUT IT OFTEN.

I CAN'T WAIT FOR SKI SEASON.

LOOKING FORWARD TO SKI SEASON.

WHERE'S THE SNOW PEOPLE HAVE TO STOP TALKING ABOUT IT BEING WARM OUT!

IT'S WINTER.

I NEED THE SNOW.

[LAUGHTER] REALLY, REALLY PROUD OF HIM.

REALLY PROUD AT HOW DEDICATED HE HAS BEEN.

HE HASN'T GIVEN UP AND EVEN WHEN HE HAS SOME BAD DAYS, HE STILL KEEPS GETTING UP AND KEEPS GOING.

IT'S AWESOME.

>> AFTER A LONG DAY ON THE HILL, THE ATHLETES CAME TOGETHER BUT THE MEDALS WEREN'T THE MOST IMPORTANT ITEM THAT DAY.

SHARING THEIR TIME WITH FRIENDS, FAMILY, CELEBRATING MOMENTS.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> GOOD JOB.

>> GO HARRY!

>> GO HARRY.

>> ALL RIGHT!

>> WHAT ARE YOU MOST EXCITED FOR TODAY?

>> THE REWARDS AND CHEERING ON MY FRIENDS.

>> DO YOU THINKUAL WIN YOU WILL WIN ANYTHING?

>> YES.

>> GET A CHANCE TO SHOW AND PROVE MYSELF.

SHOW PEOPLE WHAT I'M CAPABLE OF AND WHAT I CAN DO, TO PROVE TO MYSELF THAT I CAN WIN MEDALS.

DO THESE GREAT THINGS BY MYSELF.

PICTURESQUE SETTING JUST OUTSIDE THE CITY OF SYRACUSE.

ATHLETES ARE AT GREEN LAKE TODAY DUE TO THE WARM WEATHER.

THERE IS NOT ENOUGH NATURAL SNOW ON THE GROUND TO HOLD THE SNOW SHOEING COMPETITION.

SO THE ATHLETES HAVE TO ADAPT.

THE SNOW SHOEING RACES WILL BE HELD ON THE BEACH IN THE SAND.

FOR MANY, IT IS THE FIRST TIME THEY'VE RACED ON SAND, BUT ONE THING IS CLEAR AT THE WINTER SPECIAL OLYMPICS, THESE COMPETITORS RISE TO THE CHALLENGES.

MORE THAN 150 SNOW SHOERS TAKE TO THE BEACH WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS AS THEY BATTLE.

>> GO AGAIN?

I'M REALLY EXCITED FOR THEM.

REALLY PROUD.

WE TRAINED REALLY HARD.

WE'VE BEEN TRAINING SINCE LIKE AFTER THANKSGIVING, RIGHT AFTER THANKSGIVING.

WE HAVE LIKE ABOUT A 10-WEEK TRAINING PERIOD.

SO TO CULMINATE TO THIS POINT, WE PARTICIPATE IN A REGIONAL BEFORE THIS.

A COUPLE WEEKS AGO WE DID PRETTY WELL.

SO I'M REALLY EXCITED FOR HIM.

WE HAVE SOME FAST RUNNERS ON OUR TEAM.

FOR ME IT'S SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL TO BE ABLE TO COACH THESE VERY FINE DIFFERENTLY ABLED SPECIAL PEOPLE, THEY'RE THE BEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD, TRULY.

>> I'M EXCITED.

I LOVE RUNNING, I LOVE SNOW SHOEING.

I'M EXCITED.

>> WELL, HAVE FUN, JOY AND RUN FAST!

WHOO!

>> WHEN I SAY RACERS READY, THE HORN WILL GO OFF.

YOU ARE GOING TO RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FINISH LINE STAYING IN YOUR LANE AS BEST AS YOU CAN, OKAY?

ALRIGHTY!

ALL RIGHT?

READY!

RACERS READY.

(HORN) RACERS READY!

>> READY!

>> COME ON ANDREW!

COME ON ANDREW!

(NATURAL SOUNDS OF CHEERING) COME ON!

YOU GOT IT!

FINISH!

GET UP!

YOU CAN DO IT.

>> COME, GET UP, GET UP!

COME ON!

GET UP!

>> YOU GOT IT!

>> YEAH!

[ CHEERING ] IN FOURTH PLACE, WE HAVE LUKE SINGLETON!

THIRD PLACE, WE HAVE WILL KUHN!

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE RECOGNIZE THESE OUTSTANDING ATHLETES... >> IT FELT REALLY GOOD, REALLY AWESOMELY GOOD.

YES!

HOW WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE?

>> THE WHOLE THING, I AM SO PROUD.

MY FATHER JUST DIED LIKE FIVE YEARS AGO AND I MISS HIM TERRIBLY SO THIS IS MORE FOR HIM.

>> I'M WINNING THE GOLD.

>> HAPPY!

MY DAD IS MY COACH.

HE BELIEVES IN ME.

HE GIVES ME STRENGTH.

HE ALWAYS-- I DID A REALLY GOOD JOB AND MY DAD, MY MOM, SO HAPPY I'M HERE WITH MY TEAMMATES.

I'M SO HAPPY.

>> TODAY I DID THIS FOR ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS FROM THE AMBULANCE.

I SAID TO MOTHER, I SAID HEATHER, I'M GOING TO WIN FIRST PLACE FOR YOU.

AND HERE I DID.

I WON THE FIRST PLACE FOR YOU HEATHER.

[ CHEERING ] CONGRATULATIONS!

YOU RAN SO HARD!

I'M SO HAPPY FOR YOU.

OH BOY.

ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S GREAT.

>> THE MOST ANTICIPATED EVENT OF THE DAY TAKES US TO THE UPSTATE MEDICAL ARENA AT THE WAR MEMORIAL.

18 FIGURE SKATERS GATHER HERE TO DISPLAY JUMPS AND SPINS, HONED DURING YEARS OF HARD WORK, DISCIPLINE AND DEDICATION.

THEY ARE HERE TO PURSUE DREAMS AND, FOR SOME, TO NOT ONLY FACE THEIR ADVERSARIES, ALSO TO FACE THEIR FEARS.

THE STORY HERE IS ONE THAT IS BEING TOLD ACROSS THE REGION ON THIS WINTER WEEKEND.

ECHOING A SPIRIT LAID OUT IN THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS ATHLETES, LET ME WIN, BUT IF I CANNOT WIN, LET ME BE BRAVE IN THE ATTEMPT.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I DO WHAT I HAVE TO DO, SO I ASK PROVE P... >> I'M SO PROUD OF YOU.

>> WORLD GAMES 2025.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ (MUSIC PLAYING HUNGRY EYES) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ BUT THROUGH IT ALL... ♪ ♪ WONDERFUL, THEY CALL ME WONDERFUL, SO I AM WONDERFUL... ♪ ♪ [ APPLAUSE ] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ GREAT JOB!

[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE] >> INCREDIBLE.

GREAT JOB.

SPECIAL OLYMPICS MEANS A LOT TO ME BECAUSE IT'S MOSTLY INCLUSIVE AND EVERYBODY IS OUT THERE HAVING A GREAT TIME AND THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERS TO ME BECAUSE BECAUSE IF YOU SKATE WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND YOU ARE OUT THERE, WHO ARE WATCHING THIS AND YOU WANT TO BE INVOLVED, IT'S SO MUCH FUN TO DO BECAUSE I'VE DONE THIS FOR 11 YEARS AND IT'S SO MUCH FUN.

ANDIC HAVE YOUR DREAMS IF YOU WANT TO SKATE.

>> WHAT HAS THIS MEANT?

>> IT'S WONDERFUL.

IT'S TRANSFORMED HER.

SHE IS MADE SO MANY GOOD FRIENDS AND GOTTEN SO MUCH SUPPORT, AND SHE HAS COME SO FAR.

IN CONFIDENCE AND BRAVERY.

LIKE SHE SAID BEFORE, SHE WAS AFRAID TO SKATE THE FIRST YEAR.

AND THEY JUST SUPPORTED HER SO MUCH THAT THE SECOND YEAR, SHE CAME TO US AND SAID I WANT TO.

I WANT TO SKATE.

>> THE GOLD MEDAL EMMA CAHILL.

>> THERE IS-- THEY WORKED SO HARD.

AND THEY'RE SO PASSIONATE AND DEDICATED AND THEY DESERVE RESPECT.

THEY DESERVE ALL THE RESPECT BECAUSE-- OOPS, SORRY.

BECAUSE I MEAN, THEY'RE PLAYING ON HARD MODE.

AND THEY ARE THRIVING AND SURVIVING AND DOING INCREDIBLE THINGS.

[ APPLAUSE ] ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> DID YOU GUYS HAVE KUN TODAY?

-- DID YOU GUYS HAVE FUN TODAY.

HOW ABOUT OUR SNOW SHOERS, ARE YOU WARMED UP?

WAS IT COLD?

HOW ABOUT CLEANING.

HOW MANY MEDALS DO WE HAVE?

LET'S SEE THE MEDALS.

WE HAVE GOLD, SILVER, BRONZE.

EVERYBODY HAD A GOOD TIME?

HOW ABOUT OUR SKIERS?

OUR SKIERS HAVE A GOOD TIME?

FIGURE SKATERS.

I LOVE WATCHING THE FIGURE SKATERS.

THE MUSIC WAS AWESOME.

D.J., YOU LOVED THE MUSIC.

AND THE FLOOR BALL, HOW DID WE DO IN FLOOR BALL?

CHEERK SO WE ARE-- SO WE ARE FLOOR BALL FANS.

YOU DID IT.

THE FIRST EVER STATEWIDE FLOOR BALL COMPETITION.

WHO GOT THE GOLD?

WHO GOT THE SILVER?

WHO GOT THE BRONZES?

EVERYBODY HAD FUN.

ALL RIGHT.

WELL, SYRACUSE, SYRACUSE HAS BEEN SUCH A GREAT HOME FOR US FOR THREE YEARS.

WHAT DO WE SAY TO THE SYRACUSE COMMUNITY?

>> THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

SO AWESOME.

WE ARE GOING TO TRAVEL ON TO ROCHESTER.

BUT FIRST WE ARE GOING HAVE AN ATHLETE REFLECTION FROM JOE REALE.

>> HELLO, EVERYONE.

MY NAME IS JOSEPH REALE.

I'M ON THE FLOOR BALL TEAM I'M ALSO ON THE NEW YORK STATE AND HUDSON VALLEY REGION ATHLETE LEADERSHIP COUNCIL.

FLOOR BALL IS A NEW SPORT THIS YEAR AND I WAS A LITTLE NERVOUS BUT EXCITED.

OUR TEAM WAS PLACED IN DIVISION 4 AND WE PLAYED THE ALBANY MIGHTY PUCKS.

[ CHEERING ] AND THE PHOENIX FURRIES.

AND OUR FIRST GAME AGAINST ALBANY MIGHTY PUCKS, EVERYONE PLAYED WELL.

IT WAS A NAIL BITER OF A GAME.

WE ENDED UP WINNING 6-5.

I SCORED FOUR GOALS.

MARK WALSH AND TIM SINGLETON EACH SCORED ONE.

DANNY, OUR GOALIE, MADE 29 SAVES AND THE GOLD MEDAL MATCH AGAINST PHOENIX, IT WAS ANOTHER CLOSE GAME.

WE WON 4-IS.

I SCORED THE FIRST GOAL.

KATRINA, WAS LIKE A WALL OUT THERE WITH A BUNCH OF BODY SAVES.

THEN WE STEPPED IT UP IN THE THIRD PERIOD WITH THREE GOALS, TWO GOALS BY TIM AND ONE GOAL BY MARK.

DANNY HELPED US KEEP OUR LEAD WITH 15 SAVES THE SECOND GAME.

[ APPLAUSE ] TODAY WAS A BLAST.

IT WAS VERY EXCITING AND I HAD A GREAT TIME.

I'M MOST THANKFUL FOR OUR COACHES BECAUSE WITHOUT THEM, WE WOULDN'T BE HERE.

THANK YOU SYRACUSE FOR HOSTING US.

[ APPLAUSE ] I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT YEAR'S WINTER GAMES.

THANK YOU.

>> JOE, WOULD YOU LIKE TO LEAD US WITH THE ATHLETE OATH?

ALL RIGHT.

>> REPEAT AFTER ME.

LET ME WIN.

>> LET ME WIN.

>> BUT IF I CANNOT WIN.

>> IF CAN I NOT WIN... >> LET ME BE BRAVE IN THE ATTEMPT.

>> LET ME BE BRAVE IN THE ATTEMPT.

[ APPLAUSE ] ♪ ♪ THE BEST EXPERIENCE OF THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS THAT I ENJOY MYSELF IS BEING LIKE WITH MY FRIENDS AND BEING WITH EVERYBODY WHO I ENJOY BEING WITH BECAUSE WHEN I WAS LITTLE, PEOPLE THOUGHT I COULDN'T WALK, I COULDN'T TALK.

BUT I KNOW HOW TO DO SIGN LANGUAGE.

I PROVED THEM WRONG.

I HAVE BEEN WANTING TO DO FIGURE SKATING BECAUSE I KNEW IT WAS MY PASSION BECAUSE EVERY YEAR I COME BACK HERE TO DO FIGURE SKATING, IT'S THAT I CAN FIND MY HEART AND MY PASSION TO DO IT BECAUSE DON'T EVER GIVE UP ON YOUR DREAMS.

DON'T EVER GIVE UP ON YOUR GOAL IN LIFE TO DO WHAT YOU LOVE.

SO IF YOU WANT TO KEEP GOING, KEEP GOING.

DON'T KILL YOUR DREAMS BECAUSE THIS IS MY LIFE AND SPECIAL OLYMPICS, THEY'VE DONE A LOT FOR ME SINCE I WAS LITTLE AND NOW LOOK WHERE I AM RIGHT NOW.

I'M NOW 21.

AND SPECIAL OLYMPICS, IF IT WASN'T FOR THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS, I WOULD NOT BE HERE RIGHT NOW.

BECAUSE IT GROWS ME IN A ROLE THAT I JUST HAVE CONFIDENCE IN MYSELF AND ALL OF THAT BECAUSE I HAVE PASSION FOR EVERYTHING THAT I DO.