Sea Isle City Athlete Heads to World Games Training Camp

SEA ISLE CITY – Next week, three Special Olympics New Jersey athletes will join 210 other members of Team USA for the first time in historic Lake Placid, NY. They will be attending their official training camp prior to their participation in the Special Olympics 2013 Special Olympics World Winter Games in the Republic of Korea.
Representing New Jersey are:
Junichi Kusakawa, 27, from West Windsor competing in Cross Country Skiing
Maureen Larson, 24, from Sea Isle City competing in Alpine Skiing
Rebecca Scheick, 23, from Ewing competing in Snowshoeing
The Games will take place Jan. 29 – Feb. 5, 2013. Special Olympics Team USA is comprised of 151 athletes, 44 coaches, four medical personnel, and management team members from throughout the United States.
In preparation, they will attend a training camp in Albany and Lake Placid, NY, from Dec. 10-14. Training camp will be the first time they will meet the rest of the Team USA delegation that they will be traveling with to the Republic of Korea. Training camp will offer a variety of team building and sport-specific training opportunities, all held at facilities used during the Olympics and current national and international competitions, including the Olympic Training Center. The camp will also include special events set at such historic venues as the Olympic speed skating oval and Herb Brooks Arena, home to the legendary 1980 “Miracle on Ice” hockey game between the US and Soviet Union.
“We are extremely proud of the three individuals chosen to represent New Jersey,” said Marc Edenzon, president of Special Olympics New Jersey. “Training camp is the first stop on their exciting journey to the Republic of Korea, where they will display athletic skill, determination and courage on the international stage.”
The 10th Special Olympics World Winter Games will bring nearly 3,300 athletes from 112 countries together in PyeongChang and Gangneung, Republic of Korea, the same site where the 2018 Winter Olympics will be held. More than 15,000 family, friends, volunteers and spectators are also expected to attend. Athletes will compete in seven Olympic-type sports: alpine skiing, cross country skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, short track speed skating, figure skating, floor hockey and the demonstration sport of floor ball.
To support the New Jersey athletes, visit www.sonj.org and click on the 2013 World Winter Games link. Find additional World Games information at http://www.2013sopoc.org/hb/en