As Mrs. Virginia International, I was invited to attend the Alpine Championship Event for the Special Olympics of Virginia (SOVA). I had heard from former Mrs. Virginia Internationals that this was a highlight of their reign, so I was looking forward to the event and meeting the athletes. Not to mention it was an opportunity for a two-day getaway with the family at the Wintergreen Ski Resort.
The two days were nothing short of amazing. When we arrived, Lexi and I were greeted with smiles and were able to check into a quaint condo that included a fireplace that we certainly enjoyed.
Our first event was the opening ceremony. The athletes gladly took their oath, sang the national anthem and listened to a myriad of speakers that included a brief appreciation ceremony for 32 years of service from Wintergreen. Sadly, this year is the last Alpine event for Virginia. I had the honor and privilege of introducing the torch bearer as he skied in!
After the opening ceremonies, we shared some laughter, fun, and dancing at the luau. It was two hours of shear joy! I found myself dancing among the best and lexi even shared a game of beach-ball tossing with the athletes.
Earlier in the day our condo experienced a little power-outage, which was simply an excuse to enjoy the fireplace and test our fire-making skills. Needless to say, it took me a book of matches and a lot of skill!
The following day found us enjoying a little tubing and a great breakfast by the slopes. We watched the athletes push off to their races and finish in medal form.
I was blessed to give each athlete their medal and I can say that they each felt like a winner and knew that they were number 1 - I do not have the talent to ski so I truly appreciate all of their effort and know that they are dedicated to doing their best.
This was a true honor that I will surely never forget. The athletes have more heart, determination, and spirit than anyone I know. Enjoy a few photos from an amazing experience!
 |
 |
| Customize a photo album |
0 comments:
Post a Comment