***** Special Olympics Colorado - Winter Games
March 25th & 26th, 2007 Special Olympics Colorado (SOCO) provides "year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities... giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community". The vision of the non-profit organization is to reach all athletes in Colorado with intellectual disabilities, and to connect communities, by sharing the Olympic spirit. Today, more than 500,000 individuals participate in U.S. Special Olympics programs in 20,000 communities. Special Olympics Colorado held its first one-day event -- a track and field meet -- at Aurora Hinkley High School in 1969. Today, Special Olympics Colorado serves more than 8,000 athletes. On March 25th and 26th of 2007, Special Olympics Colorado will hold their Winter Games at Copper Mountain resort. With the 410 Special Olympics Athletes and their 103 coaches, sporting events will include alpine skiing, cross country skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing. This season's winter games will mark the 29th annual Special Olympics Colorado Winter Games. The competition will begin at 10am on Sunday, March 25, 2007. The snowshoeing and cross-country events will take place near the base of the Alpine Chairlift in the East Village. Opening ceremony celebrations will take place at 7pm in Burning Stones Plaza in the heart of Copper, including a fireworks display.
Credit to Special Olympics Colorado and Copper Mountain for the above information.
http://www.specialolympicsco.org/
http://www.coppercolorado.com/todo/events/2007-03/special_olympics.htm
***** Countrywide American Ski Classic 2007 
March 21st to 25th, 2007, Golden Peak - Vail
In March 2007, the Countrywide American Ski Classic will bring together skiing legends, sports and entertainment celebrities, and corporate America to celebrate its 25th anniversary. A combination of both professional and amateur ski racing, the event also offers "an array of entertainment options for fans of all ages". Sporting a festive social schedule, including the Mountains of Hope benefit dinner and the Legends of Skiing banquet, "the American Ski Classic is one of the oldest and largest skiing competition and festival of its kind in North America". "With exciting racing action on the slopes, and live entertainment and sumptuous dinner events off the slopes, there is always something to do at the Ski Classic." All races will be held at Golden Peak in Vail from March 21st to March 25th, 2007. The family-friendly races are free for spectators, and rich with autograph opportunities, so don't miss the opportunity to be part of this exciting festival. Colorado Mountain Express is proud to be a sponsor of Countrywide American Ski Classic 2007. Credit to Vail Valley Foundation for the above information. ***** Snowshoe Shuffle 2007
Raising funds for cancer prevention, education, and early detection programs The Beaver Creek Snowshoe Adventure Series will conclude on the 3rd of March, 2007 (Saturday) with the Snowshoe Shuffle at McCoy Park. Presented by the Vail Valley Medical Center, "the 14th annual Beaver Creek Snowshoe Shuffle is one of the largest snowshoe races in North America" and is expected to draw more than 1,000 participants. For those who have never tried snowshoeing before, the series caters to beginners as well, and courses were "designed with participants of all ages and abilities in mind". Beginners and experts can choose from one-mile, 5K and 10K events from 9,800 feet high atop Beaver Creek Mountain. "Approximately 70% of racers participate in honor of someone that has suffered from cancer, survived cancer, or lost a life to cancer. About 5% of participants are cancer survivors." Raising funds for cancer prevention, education, and early detection programs, one hundred percent of net proceeds from the Snowshoe Shuffle will be put to these worthy causes. Colorado Mountain Express is once again proud to be a sponsor of the Snowshoe Shuffle. Visit Beaver Creek Snowshoe Adventure Series to find out more. Credit to the Snowshoe Shuffle website for the above information.
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