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Seminole leaders cheer on Special Olympics athletes

Orlando Sentinel - 5/24/2022

Seminole commissioners on Tuesday honored the scores of local athletes who will be competing in next month’s Special Olympics USA Games at sporting venues in Orange, Osceola and Lake counties.

“On behalf of Seminole County, I want to wish you well and wish you good luck,” commission Chairman Bob Dallari said to a dozen Special Olympics athletes who attended the meeting. “Thank you for representing all of Seminole County.”

Commissioners watched a brief video on the Special Olympics and then stood for group photos with the athletes, who will be competing in equestrian, tennis, volleyball, triathlon and cheerleading.

“Thank you so much, Seminole County,” said Abigail Adams, who will be competing in the triathlon event.

More than 5,500 athletes — along with 125,000 visitors — from throughout the United States and the Caribbean are expected to visit Central FloridaJune 5 through June 12 to take part in the games, said Danny Trosset, Seminole’s director of sports tourism.

“Seminole County has always had a very strong Special Olympics program,” Trossett said. “We have over 1,000 Special Olympics athletes, participants and volunteers from right here in Seminole County.”

The USA Games opening ceremony will take place at Exploria Stadium in Orlando. Other events will be held at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, in Kissimmee; Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, in Lake Buena Vista; Rosen Aquatic Center, in Orlando; Orange County’s National Golf facility, in Winter Garden; Silver Spurs Arena, in Kissimmee; and the Lake Minneola Waterfront Park, in Clermont.

County officials said the Special Olympics organization wanted to keep the events as close to south Orange County and Walt Disney properties as possible, rather than in Seminole, to make it more convenient and easier to transport athletes and their families.

Special Olympics representatives did not return calls for comment.

Trosset said Seminole has hosted Special Olympics events in the past and “has always been a strong supporter” of the organization.

In 2016, Seminole spent $28 million building the Boombah Sports Complex off East Lake Mary Boulevard, just east of the Sanford airport, to attract big-name tournaments and visitors. Since then, it has hosted nearly 300 events and brought in more than 600,000 visitors to the county.

“The county would have taken the opportunity to provide venues for the USA Games if asked or needed,” said Ashley Moore, a Seminole spokesperson.

She noted Seminole is scheduled to host a Special Olympics softball event on Oct. 8 at the county’s sports complex.

Commissioner Lee Constantine urged on the Seminole athletes at the meeting.

“Go team; bring back some gold medals,” he said.

mcomas@orlandosentinel.com

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