Washington, DC – Vice President Joe Biden will lead a Presidential Delegation to the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Boise, Idaho on Thursday, February 12. Vice President Biden and the delegation will join approximately 2,500 athletes from nearly 100 countries worldwide, their families, as well as thousands of coaches, family members, volunteers and spectators for the largest international sporting event this year. Special Olympics programs serve more than 2.8 million people with intellectual disabilities.

The Delegation will observe the Final Round of the Figure Skating Competition and the Vice President will congratulate and present medals to the athletes. Following the medal ceremony, the Delegation will visit the Special Olympics’ Healthy Athletes Event to learn about this ongoing, worldwide program in which athletes receive a variety of health screenings and services.  The Vice President will then host a reception for Special Olympics athletes, their families and volunteers.  The Vice President will offer remarks at the reception. 

The Presidential Delegation will include:

• Secretary of Education Arne Duncan
• United States Representative Walt Minnick (D-ID)
• Susan Axelrod, President, Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy
• Chester Finn, President, Self Advocates Becoming Empowered
• Ralph Cetrulo, President, Delaware Special Olympics
• Mark Shriver, Head of U.S. Programs for Save the Children
• Lisa Brown, Assistant to the President
• Michelle Kwan, former Olympic Figure Skater
• Scott Hamilton, former Olympic Figure Skater