CARRABASSETT VALLEY – There are 500 Special Olympics Maine athletes preparing for the 38th annual Special Olympics Maine Winter Games. On Sunday, Jan. 27, athletes, coaches, families and volunteers will meet at Sugarloaf for the games that will continue through Tuesday, Jan. 29.

Maine is credited with holding the first Special Olympics Winter Games in the world. In 1970 a handful of athletes joined on a small hill in Gorham to show their skills in alpine and Nordic skiing. The following year the games had grown enough to move to Saddleback Mountain in Rangeley and in 1982 they moved to Sugarloaf.

The people of Carrabassett Valley prepare the meals for the first night for all athletes, their coaches and volunteers.

After settling in Sunday, the athletes will head out for an evening of moonlight skating and cross country skiing, karaoke and a bonfire. The competition will begin Monday. Athletes will compete in Alpine and Nordic skiing, speed skating, snowshoeing and dual ski.

The opening ceremonies will take place at noon Monday with newly crowned Miss Maine Teen Avery Barr, Miss Farmington Chantel White and JR Miss Farmington Star Thibodeau, along with VIPs. The event will kick off with a parade of athletes.

Monday evening there will be a banquet of champions, a torch light parade put on by Carrabassett Valley Academy and a fireworks display before the victory dance. Competition will pick up again on Tuesday morning.

Special Olympics is a year-round athletic training and competition program for persons with intellectual disabilities of all ages. In Maine there are more than 2,500 athletes who participate.

For more information on the Winter Games or Special Olympics, call 879-0489 or visit www.specialolympicsmaine.org.