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Show Local youth participates in International Special Olympics Fletcher Goodrich has recently returned from the International Special Olympics competition, held in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Fletcher is from Tridell, and is a student stu-dent at Dina Enterprises at the Uintah Basin Area Vocational Center in Ballard. .. , ' -.- I f I I n si V i ' 1 r f ' L A --"i -i i FLETCHER GOODRICH recently participated in the International Inter-national Special Olympics held in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Before Fletcher was chosen to represent Utah in the International Competition, he had participated in the District Special Olympics and the State Special Olympics competitions. The district representatives selected Fletcher and submitted his name for approval as part of the Utah delegation. delega-tion. Fletcher was selected from many people desirous to go. The District Special Olympics Committee paid Fletcher's entire expenses. There were over 4000 people in Baton Rouge as part of the Olympics, including athletes, coaches, and other advisory personnel. The Utah delegation delega-tion consisted of about 50 people. The Olympics Was held at Louisiana State University, and everyone stayed in the dormitories while they were there. Fletcher said he really enjoyed going and competing, but perhaps more so than the competition, he enjoyed en-joyed being able to meet new people. All 50 of the United State were represented, plus about 40 foreign countries. Fletcher said one of his fondest memories of the experience was the arrival. His was one of the first airplanes to land, and shortly after many others carrying Special Olympians Olym-pians also landed. They received a police escort as their procession made its way from the airport to the Louisiana Loui-siana State University Campus. Many sponsors donated to the Special Olylmpics cause. Fletcher was given several t-shirts and other items with the Utah emblem on it. With these, he traded other people for similar items. He brought these items home as souvenirs of this journey. His collections Include a Special Olympics button from a participant from Jamaica. Fletcher participated in two events while at the Special Olymlpics and earned a sixth place finish in the standing stan-ding long jump as well as an eighth place finish in the 400 meter run. |