Volunteers Urged To Cheer During Special Olympics Winter Championships

Organizers of the 2009 Special Olympics Virginia Winter Championships, taking place Jan. 9 and 10, are asking area residents to "Volunteer to Cheer" in support of participating athletes.

Audience members would help to encourage the more than 200 participants expected to compete during the course of the weekend-long event in Ashburn.

Volunteers will spend a few hours or an entire day cheering on competitors in figure and speed skating events. The events will take place at the Ashburn Ice House, with figure skating running from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9, and speed skating contests taking place from 8:45 a.m. to noon Saturday, Jan. 10. Additional competitions in bowling and gymnastics also will take place, though cheer volunteers are not requested for these events.

The Winter Championships, presented by Booz Allen Hamilton, is one of six state-level competitions offered by Special Olympics Virginia. All are invited to attend the Opening Ceremony, featuring the lighting of the Olympic Cauldron, which will take place at 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 9, at St. Joseph's Parish in Herndon.

For more information on the Winter Championships, including details on the bowling and gymnastics events, go to www.specialolympicsva.org.