00SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 19                                                                                          
01 Relating to naming Anchorage as the location of the 2001 Special Olympics World                                         
02 Winter Games.                                                                                                           
03 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                               
04  WHEREAS it is the mission of Special Olympics International to provide year-round                                      
05 sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic sports for children eight years                        
06 of age and older and adults with mental retardation, giving them continuing opportunities to                            
07 develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience the joy of competition, and                                   
08 participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special                            
09 Olympics athletes, and the community; and                                                                               
10  WHEREAS the Special Olympics World Winter Games play a crucial role in the                                             
11 fulfillment of the Special Olympics' mission; and                                                                       
12  WHEREAS a Special Olympics World Winter Games Committee has been organized                                             
13 in Anchorage, with United States Senator Ted Stevens as its honorary chair; and                                         
14  WHEREAS Anchorage has in place the facilities necessary to host the 2001 Special                                       

01 Olympics World Winter Games and has selected the theme "Enlightening the World with the                                 
02 Spirit of Brave Heart"; and                                                                                             
03  WHEREAS the 2001 Special Olympics World Winter Games would bring as many                                               
04 as 6,600 athletes, coaches, delegates, family members, volunteers, and dignitaries to Alaska                            
05 during the winter months for 10 days; and                                                                               
06  WHEREAS hosting the 2001 Special Olympics World Winter Games would leave the                                           
07 Special Olympics program in Alaska bigger and stronger, expand the program to the                                       
08 indigenous people of Alaska, and leave permanent improvements to existing winter sports                                 
09 facilities;                                                                                                             
10  BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature supports the Special Olympics                                         
11 World Winter Games Committee in its efforts to have Anchorage selected as the site for the                              
12 2001 Special Olympics World Winter Games of Special Olympics International.                                             
13  COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to Eunice Kennedy Shriver, founder, Special                                    
14 Olympics International; to the Honorable Ted Stevens, Honorary Chair, Special Olympics                                  
15 World Winter Games Committee; to the Honorable Rick Mystrom, Mayor of Anchorage; and                                    
16 to Patti McGuire, Chair, Special Olympics World Winter Games Committee of Anchorage.