July 29, 2009 - SPECIAL OLYMPICS PEI Benefits from PEI Mutual’s Generosity - The Board of Directors of Special Olympics PEI is delighted today to acknowledge and accept the generosity of The PEI Mutual Insurance Company.

PEI Mutual has been a long - time provincial Platinum sponsor and supporter of SOPEI. In addition to their sponsorship this year, the PEI Mutual Insurance Company has generously made a special additional donation of $20,000 to assist with SOPEI program expenses during a challenging financial year.

"This donation will help Special Olympics Prince Edward Island's dedicated Volunteers and staff to continue to provide quality sport programs to our Special Olympics athletes. The support and cooperation of PEI Mutual will allow us to maintain operations at the same high level during a difficult year.” Stated SOPEI Board President, Valerie Downe.

We recognize the value of sport programs in the lives of more than 340 athletes and the importance it has to their families. Trained staff and a tremendous, Island - wide network of skilled volunteers and coaches will ensure that athletes have access to training and competition opportunities as they always have so that they can continue to reach their full potential.

July 28, 2009 - Special Olympics Festival - On June 15th, 2009, Special Olympics PEI hosted their annual fundraising dinner and luncheon; the Special Olympics Festival. Sports Celebrities Dion Phaneuf and Gordie Dwyer came to PEI to be our guest celebrities while over 500 Island businessmen and women joined the dinners to help raise funds for Special Olympics PEI. Over $65,000 was raised from this annual event and here are a few pictures from the night!

A great big thank you to everyone who attended and be sure to keep your ‘ears’ open this January when we announce next years Festival Date!

July 22, 2009 - SOPEI Athletes Compete at Nova Scotia Provincial Games - Special Olympics PEI took a team of 38 athletes and 12 coaches to the Nova Scotia 2009 Provincial Games in Halifax, NS on July 17-19th. This provincial competition was a qualifying event for next year’s 2010 National Summer Games. Team PEI had an exceptional weekend with quality competition being at the forefront.

The Team PEI athletes and coaches exemplified true sportsmanship, dedication and passion for sport and as a result, Team PEI came home with an abundance of gold, silver and bronze medals!

Special Olympics PEI participated in softball, powerlifting, aquatics and athletics. Here are the highlights from the each sport:

Softball

The PEI Stars played two games against the Lunenburg Nicks and were undefeated in their quest to bring home a gold medal in their Division. Saturday's game started off well with some hard hitting and fast running by all athletes to bring on an early lead. Pitching for our first game was Glendon Arsenault. Highlight of the game was a "triple play" by Blair Burns and yes, it was a TRIPLE play! The final score in our first game was 10-0 for the Stars. Our second game on Saturday was rained out so Sunday morning both teams took to the field once again. Pitching for the Stars was Shawn Mitchell and Glendon Arsenault. The Nicks were playing tough and we had to strategize in order to wrap this game up. A homerun helped to finish off with a close win of 9-6! What a weekend!! Our athletes had lots of fun, made some new friends and began blending into their newly formed national team with ease.

Powerlifting

For the first time in Special Olympics PEI history, SOPEI competed in power lifting at the Provincial Summer Games. Kolton Doucette and Jarred MacNeil are no strangers to the world of power lifting but it was their first time competing at a Special Olympics event. The newbie’s to SOPEI proved their experience and expertise to the sport, bringing home a gold medal each. Some highlights of their first ever SO competition is:

- Official CPU officials on hand doing a fantastic job.

- Kolton getting to wear official Inzer power lifting gear. He looked the part big time!

- Kolton, Jarred and Coach Richard being interviewed for George and Jaquie's, documentary.

- Jarred's 308lb deadlift and Kolton's 200lb deadlift. Fantastic for their size!

- And of course, smiles all around at the medal presentations.

Athletics Team

PEI athletics was a group of 12 athletes from Charlottetown, Summerside and Souris and to say they were small in numbers but mighty in strength is an understatement. Every athletics athlete was proudly wearing a medal around their neck as they loaded the bus to go home on Sunday; Some athletes even medaled in several of their events!

Highlights of the weekend were:

- 11 Gold

- 8 Silver

- 2 Bronze

- Lorne Blackett won a gold or silver in all four events we competed in.

Swimming

P.E.I. Special Olympics Aquatics team of 8 swimmers had amazing results at the recent Nova Scotia Special Olympics Provincial Summer Games. In front of many P.E.I. fans and family members, they captured 25 medals in the 38 event swim competition. Many personal best were achieved, along with topping off the competition by winning gold in two relay events.

Highlights of the weekend were:

- Charlottetown athlete Melissa MacDonald getting gold in the 25 M Free, her first medal in an aquatics event.

- Athletes Amie Sullivan, Alyssa Chapman and Amber Metcalfe medaled in all events.

- Swimming coaches Debbie Metcalfe, Melissa MacKay and Alysia Angus-Lund losing their voices from all the screaming and cheering during the day long competition.

Click here to view a picture gallery of the event!!!