VERNON, New Jersey ??” More than 600 Special Olympic athletes from the area are competing in Floor Hockey, Alpine and Cross-Country Skiing, Figure Skating and Speed Skating as part of the Winter Games. The Alpine Skiing competition will be held at Mountain Creek today and tomorrow.

The Special Olympics mission is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

Some of these athletes have trained for years to compete. “It is our honor and privilege to host these Special Olympic athletes,” said Bill Benneyan, Mountain Creek’s Director of Sales and Marketing. “At Mountain Creek we are all about encouraging people to try new adventures and fostering a sense of achievement, much like the relationship Special Olympics has with it’s athletes.”