National Games Team Wisconsin Blog - Sunday, July 18
The basketball team spent their first day at Lincoln's Southeast High School playing two six-minute games as the national games management team reviewed each of the 24 teams' ability levels. Wisconsin was matched up with Maryland for the first game, in which we outscored them substantially (they didn't keep score, but our shots were going in left and right). The second game was against New Jersey, again showing Wisconsin most likely in a higher division. Monday, the divisions will begin to unveil as Wisconsin may move around a bit until they make it to a medal round.
The soccer team held a practice scrimmage against Team South Dakota at Abbots Sports Complex and our athletes looked pretty talented making the first four goals of the game! Also at Abbots Complex was our four tennis athletes. Upon arriving, I found myself standing with a few feet of the tennis great Andy Roddick, ranked #1 in the U.S. and 7th in world. Andy put his arms around our athletes Cindy Bentley and Kamala Gesteland before spending an hour working with all the states'' tennis players on skills and techniques.
We had a bit of a break to cool off and clean up before it was time to dress in the ceremony attire and make the 10 minute walk over to the Devaney Sports Complex for the 3:00 pm opening ceremony. Wisconsin headed to line up around 2 pm and spent around a ½ hour in the heat, then finally moved indoors where the 47 states were assembled and escorted into the approximately 10,000-person filled arena. A welcome message was delivered by Special Olympics Inc. CEO Brady Lum and Nebraska Special Olympics CEO Charles Cooper. The Governor of Nebraska, Dave Heineman also offered a wonderful thank-you speech to Nebraska's population that came in droves to help support and volunteer this National Games event.
Athletes and coaches raised their arms when golf professional Phil Mickelson delivered a message on the jumbotron giving athletes a "high-five" pep talk before competition. Brooklyn Decker, model and actress in the upcoming Adam Sandler move "Just Go With It" served as emcee with Special Olympics athlete Eddie Barbanell, also an actor in the 2005 movie "The Ringer" starring alongside Johnny Knoxville.
Music added a very touching element to the ceremonies as not only did rock Christian group "Jars of Clay" rock the stadium for athletes to dance in their seats, but American Idol 8th season top 10-finalist Michael Sarver performed several songs, including a song specially written for the ceremony, honoring Eunice Kennedy Shriver and the opening of the 2010 Games. His first album releases this summer!
Lastly, singer and songwriter Sandi Patti, who has recorded 30 albums and won five Grammy's and four Billboard Music Awards, sang a dedication to Eunice Kennedy Shriver just a year from her death as the Special Olympics flag rose high above the stage for all to see.
The highlight of the ceremony was the more than 50 law enforcement from all over the nation who converged in full uniform saluting the torch as it was run into the stadium, lighting the beautiful two-story tall, brushed stainless steel cauldron. Tears wet the corners of many eyes in the stadium as we left the ceremony around 5:30 pm to grab dinner and settle in for the night before competition hits hard for the next five days. Good luck Team Wisconsin! We should all be getting more sleep tonightÂ….
Kelly Kloepping
Vice President, Marketing & Communications
Special Olympics Wisconsin
