In 1969, Special Olympics Maine held the world's very first Special Olympics Winter Games. It all began on a small hill in Gorham with only a handful of people. Today, in 2015 Special Olympics Maine will send 490 athletes to Sugarloaf USA for the 46th annual Special Olympics Maine Winter Games.

The events will begin on Sunday evening, Jan. 25 with one of Maine's largest community suppers. Citizens of Carrabassett and surrounding areas will play host to the athletes by bringing in casseroles and desserts and serving over 800 people. The evening activities kick off with outdoor skating and hot chocolate, a sing-a-long and karaoke.

The competition will be underway bright and early on Monday morning, and Opening Ceremonies featuring our parade of athletes, will begin at Noon sharp. That evening athletes will be treated to a torchlight parade, fireworks and victory dance.

Enroute to Sugarloaf, Special Olympic teams will have the opportunity to take a break and stretch their legs at a rest stop courtesy of the Roderick-Crosby Post and Auxiliary #28 of Farmington. Hot chocolate and cookies will be provided to the athletes.

During the three day event athletes will compete in Nordic skiing, Alpine skiing, Snowshoe, Speed Skating, and Dual Ski.

Special Olympics is a year round athletic training and competition program for adults and children with intellectual disabilities. In Maine there are over 3800 athletes involved in the program. SOME offers over 60 events annually at the local, and state levels. The State Winter Games at Sugarloaf will host nearly 500 athletes from 68 teams.

Competitions will run through Tuesday morning and will conclude with Closing Ceremonies at noon on Jan. 27.

SOME is still in need of 100 scarves for the 2015 Scarf Project. Our goal is to offer a handmade scarf to every athlete in attendance at the Winter Games. Details are below.

For further information on Special Olympics Maine or the State Winter Games please call our state office at 207-879-0489 or email Lisa Bird at lisab@somaine.org.

Upcoming SOME events

Winter Games Jan. 25-27 at Sugarloaf USA

Central Maine Basketball Tournament at UMO Fieldhouse

Southern ME Basketball tournament at USM Gorham

Central Maine Motor Activities Tentative March 18

State Swim Meet Tentative April 9 at Tarbell Pool at Bates College

Motor Activities Southern Maine May at North Yarmouth Academy

State Young Athletes Festival Friday, May 15 (rain date May 18) Yarmouth Middle School

Maine Law Enforcement Torch Run June 2-5 statewide

State Summer Games June 5-7 at UMO

Special Olympics World Games July in Los Angeles

Scarf Project 2015

Special Olympics Maine is reaching out to knitters (and to those of you who crochet) everywhere to help with the 2015 Scarf Project. We are hoping to have 500 scarves donated in time for the 2015 Special Olympics Maine State Winter Games January 25-27, enough so that every athlete will have a scarf for their winter competition. We still need 100 more.

Scarves can be mailed/delivered to: Attn: Katheryn Wildes, Trinity Lutheran Church,612 Main St., Westbrook, ME 04092. For more information, call 207-929-6237.

The design/pattern is totally up to you. (The majority of our athletes are teens and adults. Red Heart yarn: The colors are: Carrot #256, Burgundy #376, and Paddy Green #368.)