…AND HE CAME HOME WITH THE GOLD!
CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT SPECIAL OLYMPICS PARTICIPANT VICTORIOUS AT WORLD WINTER GAMES
Release Date: 03/25/09
Amidst the light of shining Special Olympic stars, Admin Cristea, 23, returned home to Welles Park, 2333 W. Sunnyside Ave., wearing gold medals won at the 2009 World Winter Games held Feb. 7-13in the spectacular mountains of Boise, McCall and Sun Valley, Idaho.
The Chicago Park District Board of Commissioners recently honored Admin at a board meeting. Joined by his WellesPark teammates, coach, and father; Admin received a resolution from Board President Gery J. Chico and Superintendent Timothy J. Mitchell celebrating his accomplishments.
Admin who competed in three thrilling downhill skiing events as part of Team USA was awarded an impressive two gold medals in the area of downhill skiing; a Gold medal in AS Alpine Intermediate Giant Slalom, a Gold medal in AS Super G and a fifth place ribbon in AS Intermediate Slalom.
“We salute all of the athletes competing at the Special Olympics and extend our thanks to Admin who so successfully represented the Park District and Team USA,” said Chicago Park District General Superintendent & CEO Timothy J. Mitchell. “We’re proud to be part of a program that celebrates the natural abilities of these champions.”
"As parents, his mom and Iare very pleased and proud to have had Admin representing the United States at the World Games," said Gelu Cristea. “Admin is a quiet, happy, helpful young man who has a smile that makes everyone feel good.” Since joining the WellesPark program Admin has become an eight-sport athlete.Admin resides with his family in the JeffersonPark area, works for the family construction business and is a 2006 graduate of NorthsideLearningCenter in Chicago.
The first Special Olympics Games were held 40 years ago at Soldier Field on July 20, 1968, with 1,000 athletes from the United States and Canada competing in aquatics and athletics. The games were a cooperative effort of the city of Chicago, the Chicago Park District and the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation.
Today, Special Olympics training and competition programs are in more than 150 countries with more than 1 million athletes and growing fast. There are 5,000
registered Special Olympics athletes in the city of Chicago, which is larger than 26 state programs.
The Special Olympics World Games, held every two years and alternating between summer and winter games, are much more than just a sporting event. In addition to showcasing the skills and achievements of Special Olympics athletes, the 2009 World Games will embody the movement’s messages of acceptance and inclusion. These Games will bring together heads of state, celebrities and leaders in the fields of education, healthcare, business and sports to witness firsthand Special Olympics’ ability to transform communities and the lives of more than 190 million people worldwide with intellectual disabilities. The 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games were held in Shanghai, China and the 2011 World Summer Games will be in Athens.
- Contact Phone: 312 742 7529
- Publication Date: 03/25/09
