The following is being distributed at the request of Sport Newfoundland and Labrador:

Three from the Province to Represent Canada at World Games

From June 25 to July 4 more than 7,500 Special Olympics athletes from around the world will gather in the ancient capital of Athens, Greece, the birthplace of civilization and democracy, for the Special Olympics World Summer Games.

Among them will be three Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, who are members of Team Canada - Power lifter, Jackie Barrett, of Corner Brook; track and field athlete, Michael Harris of Gander; as well as team doctor, Dr. Carmel Casey, also from Gander. Each will join 103 other athletes, as well as coaches and mission staff, to proudly walk into Athens' Kallimarmaro Pananthinaikon Stadium and represent Canada at this world event.

Jackie is a 36-year old athlete who, although born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, currently resides in Gillams. Active in Special Olympics for over 23 years, Jackie is a world-class power lifter of great accomplishment. He won three gold medals at the 1999 Special Olympics World Summer Games (Raleigh, USA), following with another four gold medals at the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games (Shanghai, China). He also set a world record at the 2010 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games with a squat of 265.5 kg and was named Special Olympics Canada's Male Athlete of the Year in 2000. Another honour: being a Vancouver 2010 Torch Bearer during the Corner Brook leg of the Torch Relay.

Mike is a 20-year old athlete from Gander Bay South. Mike has been active in Special Olympics for just three years. He competes in track and field, as well as bowling, floor hockey and snowshoeing. He has competed provincially in Mount Pearl, Gander and Corner Brook. Mike won four medals at the 2010 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games, including gold in standing long jump and a gold in the 100 metres.

A prominent part of this national team will be a well-known doctor from Gander, Dr. Carmel Casey. Selected as team physician at the last world winter games in Boise, Idaho she returns to that role in Greece. She has been working closely with the team to prepare them for the demanding travel and competition schedule of the world games.

“We know that Team Canada will make our country very proud as they compete on the world stage,” said Nelson White, Executive Director of Special Olympics Newfoundland & Labrador. “The athletes from this province have trained hard for this opportunity and Dr. Casey will be at the forefront of ensuring that Canada’s athletes will be best prepared to represent our country”

Qualification for the 2011 national team was based on performance at the 2010 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games, which were held last year in London, Ontario.

About Team Canada 2011
The 2011 national team includes 107 athletes and 40 coaches and mission staff from across the country. Athletes qualified for the team based on their individual performances at the 2010 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games, which were held last year in London, Ontario. The pillars of the 2011 program are “Dream. Commit. Achieve. Celebrate.”

For more information, visit www.teamcanada2011.ca

About Special Olympics Newfoundland and Labrador
Special Olympics Newfoundland and Labrador is dedicated to enriching the lives of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians with an intellectual disability through sport. It is a provincial not-for-profit grassroots organization that provides sport training and competition opportunities for over 570 athletes of all ages and abilities. There are currently 13 community-based clubs that offer sport programs. Through sport Special Olympics offers athletes and families a sense of achievement and an opportunity to excel as they take on leadership roles within their community.

For more information, visit www.sonl.ca 

About the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games
The 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games is an international competition - the largest this year - which will run from June 25 to July 4 in Athens, Greece, and is expected to bring together an estimated 7,500 athletes from as many as 185 countries that will compete in 21 sports. Canadians will compete in seven, including 10-pin bowling, athletics, powerlifting, rhythmic gymnastics, soccer, softball and swimming.
For more information, please visit www.athens2011.org

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For more information, please contact:
Nelson White, Executive Director, Special Olympics Newfoundland and Labrador
709-738-1923, Cell: 709-690-8335
nelsonw@sonl.ca 

Susana Petti Director, Communications Liaison, Team Canada
416-927 9050, ext. 237 (until June 17), Cell: 416-455 8932
spetti@specialolympics.ca 

PLEASE NOTE: to coordinate interviews while the team is in Athens, contact Susana by cell between June 18 and July 4.

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