2007 WORLD SUMMER GAMES

Shanghai, People's Republic of China
October 2-11, 2007

Overview

The Special Olympics World Summer Games was the largest international sporting event to occur in 2007. The event marked the first time the World Summer Games were held in Asia, and only the second time they were held outside the United States. In addition to some 7,000 athletes from 169 countries, the 2007 World Summer Games drew 40,000 volunteers, 3,500 event officials and thousands of families, volunteers, spectators and journalists from every continent.

Team USA - Florida sent a delegation of 21 athletes and 3 volunteer coaches. Athletes competed in 8 sports including Aquatics, Athletics (Track & Field), Bocce, Bowling, Golf, Powerlifting, Tennis and Team Basketball.

Results for Team Florida-USA

Team Florida-USA racked up medals and ribbons and even raised the bar for international competition along the way.
Swimmers Andy Miyares and Nicholas Perry of Miami-Dade collectively set several new American records in distance events.

And on the court, the Team Florida-USA men's basketball team (the Hamilton County Stompers) were outplaying their opponents by such a wide margin that Games organizers set up an exhibition match with the Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) team (non-disabled). Before a packed arena, the game ended in a 45-45 tie - with the Chinese team refused to play to overtime!

Final Medal Count for Team Florida-USA:
Gold: 4 (including basketball team)
Silver: 14
Bronze: 9
4th: 5
5th: 3
6th: 1

Photos and Videos of the Games and our Team!

There really aren't words that can capture the excitement, joy and emotion of a World Games, that's why we have photos and videos We have several on-line photo and video galleries that will make you feel like you were there with Team Florida-USA every step of the way.

For photos of Team Florida-USA (along with news, bios and other cool stuff), visit our photo galleries. As the Team and their families send us more photos, we'll be adding more galleries!

Team USA website: see photos and read daily journal entries about Team USA at www.specialolympicsteamusa.org

World Games photos and videos: thanks to a collaboration between UNC Chapel Hill and several Chinese Universities, this site has phenomenal video highlights and slide shows from throughout the Games, including footage of the Opening Ceremony: www.specialolympicslive.org

News

10-11-07
Games Recap
With a theme of "Yes I Can!" the Special Olympics World Summer Games, held in Shanghai, China, October 2-11 were the largest international sporting event to occur in 2007. The event also marked the first time the World Summer Games were held in Asia.

7,000 athletes from 169 countries, 40,000 volunteers, 3,500 event officials and thousands of families, spectators and journalists from every continent made these games an international celebration of acceptance, respect and athletic achievement.

Team Florida-USA sent 21 athletes and 3 volunteer coaches. Athletes competed in 8 sports including Aquatics, Athletics (Track & Field), Bocce, Bowling, Golf, Powerlifting, Tennis and Team Basketball.

For half of Team Florida-USA, the journey began on September 25, as the men's basketball team departed a day early, to join the other three U.S. basketball teams for exhibition games and sightseeing in Beijing, prior to heading to Shanghai.

The rest of the team's journey began with a spectacular send-off at Epcot's China pavilion. From there, they flew to L.A. to meet up with the 400 athletes and 150 coaches of Team USA, where Bank of America hosted a lavish send-off ceremony.

Once everyone reached Shanghai the team had a couple days to get adjusted to the time difference, see some sights, learn about Chinese culture, try the local cuisine, and then they began the whirlwind of opening ceremonies and competition.

The Opening Ceremonies were considered to be the most elaborate and spectacular in the history of Special Olympics World Games and reflected themes that carried throughout the Games: a celebration of Chinese arts, culture, and more importantly the emerging attitude shift in China - recognizing the dignity and abilities of people with intellectual disabilities - a watershed moment in China's history.

Throughout the games, Florida athletes were featured in Asian and international television and newspapers, as well as ESPN/ESPN.com, CNN, the Washington Post and Good Morning America to name a few!

Several of the athlete's family members made the trip to Shanghai to cheer on their loved ones. One parent said "These kids have really shown what the state of Florida has...we have met wonderful people here from all over the world, the coaches were fabulous, the kids were beyond anything we could have imagined and Shanghai was unbelievable. Thank you from the bottom of our family's heart for giving us the opportunity to be part of these incredible games, it will stay in our hearts for the rest of our lives."

When Team Florida-USA arrives home in Orlando this Saturday, there will undoubtedly be plenty of hugs, tears and high-five's, but what will last are the memories of a once in a lifetime experience that truly helped change the world for the better.

10-5-07
Andy Miyares Featured on Good Morning America

Team Florida-USA swimmer Andy Miyares of Miami was featured on Good Morning America on October 5! The segment featured both footage of Andy swimming at the World Games and receiving one of the two silver medals he has received so far, and a pre-produced segment by TL Fiedler.

You can read an abbreviated version of the Good Morning America story and see the "video diary" portion of the segment on-line at http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/GMANow/story?id=3689877&page=1

Andy has also been interviewed by newspapers from Macau, Japan, China and elsewhere!

9-23-07
Walt Disney World Hosts Send-off Ceremony for Team Florida-USA

The athletes of Team Florida-USA were treated to a spectacular send-off ceremony at Epcot?s China pavilion on September 25. The pavilion?s centerpiece structure, a replica of Beijing?s Temple of Heaven, was transformed into a beautiful, private reception area for Team Florida-USA and invited guests.

After dining on Chinese-inspired hors d?oeuvres and learning about the symbolism of various colors, animals and characters in Chinese culture, the athletes were welcomed by Special Olympics Florida Board Chairman Chris King and Jodie Hardman, representing Team USA nationals sponsor Bank of America. After well wishes and words of encouragement from King and Hardman, the team members were presented a pin trader?s dream come true: a beautiful lanyard filled with limited edition, Disney-themed pins to trade at the World Games.

After posing for photos, guests dined from an elaborate array of traditional and modern Chinese cuisines ? no one went home hungry!

Following dinner, the athletes watched a circle vision (360 degree surround) film about China and capped off the night by being given a private viewing area for Epcot?s nighttime fireworks show, ?Illuminations: Reflections of Earth.?

Special thanks to the Walt Disney World Company for sending our athletes off in grand style!

See Photos!

9-23-07
Tampa Tribune Story on Larry Timmer
Cpl. Larry Timmer of the Tampa Police Department will be the only Florida representative in the Global Law Enforcement Torch Run at the World Games. Read a story about Larry's imminent adventure from the Tampa Tribune.

9-22-07
Orlando Magic Salute Team Florida-USA Basketball Team
The Special Olympics Hamilton County Stompers got a glimpse of what it would be like to be NBA stars, if only for a day, when the Orlando Magic gave the team a full day of VIP treatment on Saturday, September 22nd. To raise awareness about the team, it's imminent trip to the World Games in Shanghai, China and to announce it's newly formed partnership with Special Olympics Florida, the Orlando Magic built their annual Select-A-Seat event for season ticket holders around the Stompers.

After being shown to a private locker room, the team got their very first look at their Team USA competition uniforms, they suited up and took center court at the Amway Arena (Orlando). After some words of advice and a quick photo op with Magic superstar Dwight Howard, Magic Head Coach Stan Van Gundy, Assistant Coach Brendan Malone, and former Magic stand-out and current community ambassador Nick Anderson put the team through their paces during a full on-court clinic.

In between a catered lunch, meeting the Orlando Magic dancers and getting autographs from Magic players, the Stompers got a private pep talk from Nick Anderson and then signed autographs, posed for photos and accepted words of encouragement from Magic fans, as they sat side by side with Magic players and coaches at autograph tables.

The day was capped off with a special present to each player: an official Magic jersey with their name on it.

See Photos!

9-15-07
FL World Games Swimmer Andy Miyares featured on "Sabado Gigante"
Florida World Games swimmer Andy Miyares is no stranger to international television: the world record holding Miami-Dade swimmer's amazing accomplishments have been highllighted over the years in print and electronic media. But Saturday, September 15 was different. It was, in fact, gigante! "Sabado Gigante" to be exact.

Andy, and his mother, Ana Maria Miyares, were guests on "Sabado Gigante," on Univision International. The show, hosted by Don Fransisco is one of the most-watched talk shows in the Spanish-speaking world.

In addition to pre-taped segments highlighting Andy's athletic prowess, he and his mother were interviewed live and then the show presented Andy with an award in recognition of his being selected to represent the United States at the World Games and for being an inspiration to people everywhere.

9-13-07
Florida's Basketball Team Featured in Sports Illustrated Kids
Florida's World Games basketball team, the Hamilton County Stompers, will be featured in the October edition of Sports Illustrated Kids. The 2-page spread has a fantastic article by SI writer Gary Gramling that captures the team's inspiring journey from rural Jasper, FL to their imminent trip to China.

Be sure to pick up a copy at the news stand and you can read it now!

7-26-07
Florida's Basketball Team Attends Ceremony at White House with President Bush for Global Torch Run
Florida's World Games basketball team, the Hamilton County Stompers, had a truly once-in-a-lifetime week. The team flew to Washington, DC, to be part of the celebration of the Global Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics coming to the United States. The torch started its journey in Greece last month and will stop in several countries, on its way to the Special Olympics World Summer Games in Shanghai, China this October. DC was the torch's only U.S. visit. Head Coach Mike Cohen is a Hamilton County Sheriff's Deputy so this was a particularly unique opportunity for him.

Special Olympics Florida received a call on the afternoon of the 20th that the team needed to be in DC on Tuesday, the 24th! So with many frantic phone calls and much coordination, the team was on its way! Head Coach Mike Cohen and Assistant Coach John Brown, of Alachua, accompnied the team. The Hamilton Stompers joined approximately 30 other representatives of Team USA from throughout the country for the festivities.

The Flame of Hope? for the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games made its only U.S. visit to Washington, DC, on July 26th. The flame will light the torch that will be carried in the Global Law Enforcement Torch Run

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