[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Page 7040]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         2009 SPECIAL OLYMPICS

 Mr. BUNNING. Mr. President, today I wish to congratulate Ms. 
Kelly McCormick and Ms. Jeannie Luersen on their selection to 
participate in the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games, to be held 
February 6 to 13, in Boise, ID. Over 3,000 athletes from 85 countries 
will compete in 7 sports: Alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, figure 
skating, floor hockey, snowboarding, snow-
shoeing and speed skating.
  Ms. Kelly McCormick has been a Special Olympics athlete for 17 years. 
She serves as a global messenger, speaking on behalf of the program at 
many public events. Ms. McCormick will compete in the Alpine Skiing 
event. This will be her first time participating in the world games.
  Ms. Jeannie Luersen has participated in the Special Olympics program 
for 25 years. This will be her second straight year at the World Games. 
Having won a Gold Medal in figure skating at the 2005 Winter Games in 
Nagano, Japan, Ms. Luersen will compete again in the figure skating 
event.
  Special Olympics is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year as an 
international, nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering 
individuals with intellectual disabilities to become physically fit, 
productive, and respected members of society through sports training 
and competition. Ms. McCormick and Ms. Luersen represent Special 
Olympics Kentucky, which is celebrating its 36th year.
  I congratulate Ms. McCormick and Ms. Luersen on their achievements. 
They are an inspiration to the citizens of Kentucky and to athletes 
everywhere. I look forward to seeing all that they will accomplish in 
the future.

                          ____________________