The Games took place in Yoshkar-Ola, a community 1,200 km east of Moscow and Special Olympics Russia were offered the best sports venues from the Local Sports Leadership Council. This gave great comfort to all the coaches as these games were selection competitions for the 2011 World Summer Games in Athens.
The Opening Ceremony was hosted by the Russian Minister of Sport, Mr. Chumakov, Minister of Education, and Mrs. Shvevcova, Vice Minister of Social Affair.
It wasn’t all competition and hard work for the athletes who all had the chance to participate in an exciting culture programme which included a city tour, a disco, swimming and skating.
Mother and Family Coordinator, Mrs Galina Bezrukov, was there to cheer on her son, Stepan: “I was very proud when my son, Stepan, achieves such good results in swimming. I was so terrified when he informed me that he wants to start also equestrian! His dream is to see the world as a Special Olympics athlete and meet many new friends…”- said Galina Bezrukov.
Stepan achieved a silver medal in his group in Yoshkar-Ola!