Let the games begin: Special Olympics NY Winter Games holds opening ceremony in Rochester
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Nearly 900 athletes and coaches gathered at the Riverside Convention Center Friday night to celebrate the 2025 Special Olympics New York Winter Games opening ceremony!
At 7 p.m., athletes shook hands, mingled and geared up for the competitions, which kick off Saturday at different venues across Monroe County.
A little about the state's winter games: All the programs are offered to athletes at no cost to them, their families or caregivers. Athletes will be competing in seven different sports categories, including cross country skiing, figure skating and gymnastics.
'It's been wonderful. It's been over 23 years I've been skating,' said Matthew Gabello, a special olympics athlete and figure skater. 'I've been skating at RIT campus over the years. The Genesee Figure Skating Club at RIT – that's been where I've been competing, working with my private coach.'
Special Olympics leaders said the energy Friday night during kickoff was electric.
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'The athletes get to parade in front of their friends and fans and family and get the recognition they deserve. It really pumps them up and gets them excited for a big day of competition tomorrow,' said Stacey Hengsterman, Special Olympics New York CEO and President.
Friday, leaders also announced the winner of the 2024 outstanding coach of the year award, which is given out each year to a volunteer coach from NYS.
To learn more about the events this weekend or to donate to Special Olympics New York, an organization dedicated to providing opportunities to folks living with intellectual disabilities, click here.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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