THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, September 16, 1995 TAG: 9509160301
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: RALEIGH LENGTH: Short : 41 lines
North Carolina has snagged the 1999 Special Olympics - an eight-day extravaganza that stands to bring thousands of visitors and millions of dollars to the Triangle area.
Executives from Special Olympics Summer World Games International - including Special Olympics International president and chairman Sargent Shriver and his wife, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the organization's founder - joined Gov. James B. Hunt Jr. at the Capitol on Friday morning to make the announcement.
Since the site-selection process began last fall, the Triangle had been in fierce competition with the Baltimore-College Park-Annapolis, Md., area for the Games - which had a reported economic impact of $90 million this summer when they were held in New Haven, Conn.
The two finalists were judged on the quality of their sports facilities, the number of potential volunteers, and support from business, financial, civic and educational groups.
``We're excited that we finally got a decision,'' said Keith Fishburne, associate director of the North Carolina Special Olympics.
The Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau and Special Olympics officials estimated the games could draw about 200,000 spectators to the Triangle area of Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill.
They also estimated that the Games would bring an additional $50 million to the area as visitors spend money on lodging, food and souvenirs.
The Special Olympics were started in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy, sister of President John F. Kennedy, to provide challenges and motivation for those with mental retardation. by CNB