Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today joined Ken Podziba, President, New York City Sports Commission, and Catherine Paradiso, Director of the Mayor's Office of People with Disabilities, at the opening ceremonies for the 13th annual Special Olympics New York Metro Tournament at Riverbank State Park in Harlem. About 1,000 athletes took part in today's event, making it the largest Special Olympics competition in the New York metropolitan region this year.

"Today's tournament participants have demonstrated the courage, talent and will to compete in today's Special Olympics," Mayor Giuliani said. "They have proven that it's not just professional athletes -- or teams -- that make New York City the Sports Capital of the World."

Commissioner Podziba said, "This is a wonderful day as we watch one thousand New York Special Olympic athletes participate in a series of competitive athletic events. These games provide an extraordinary opportunity for its athletes to share in the joy and sense of accomplishment through sports competition, and in doing so they serve as an inspiration to us all."

Today's tournament events included aquatics, basketball, volleyball, gymnastics, track and field, and powerlifting. In addition to the City's five boroughs, the athletes also hailed from Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Orange and Rockland Counties.

www.nyc.gov