For Ted Stevens Day, Special Olympians Celebrate

Special Olympics celebrated a day early

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By KTVA CBS 11 News
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Story Created: Jul 28, 2012 at 11:01 AM AKDT

Story Updated: Jul 28, 2012 at 11:01 AM AKDT

ANCHORAGE - In 2010, Senator Ted Stevens was named, "Alaskan of the Century" for bringing money and programs from Capitol Hill to the Last Frontier for more than four decades.

Now, he has his own day.

Saturday is Ted Stevens day in Alaska.

Last year the legislature set the fourth Saturday in July as a day for Alaskans to get outside and enjoy the great outdoors, in honor of Stevens.

Stevens was a lifelong outdoor enthusiast who spent much of his off time in the backcountry, rivers and coast of Alaska.

And he continued that until he was killed in a plane crash two years ago returning from a fishing trip.

Some local athletes celebrated Ted Stevens day a little early Friday at the Special Olympics Training Center in Mountain View, playing tennis and bocce ball.

It's part of the "unified sports" program, which partners Special Olympians with athletes who don't have intellectual disabilities.

The organization’s president says the late senator did a lot to help the program – and athletes are more than happy to spend the day honoring him.

"Senator Ted Stevens is an unsung hero when it comes to the Special Olympic movement in the world. His work with Title 9 and the Special Olympics is unparalleled to any other senator I know of," said Special Olympics President Jim Balamaci.

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TedtheBear said on Saturday, Jul 28 at 12:00 PM

Although some of the money Ted Stevens brought into this state was highly questionable, I believe that in most cases, he did far more good then harm (exact opposite to his buddy Daniel Inouye who did more harm then good for Hawaii). So this is not a bad thing and like him or not, Ted Stevens did a lot for this state during his time in the Senate. Far more then probably any Alaskan past or present.

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Joe said on Monday, Jul 30 at 11:21 AM

Ted Stevans is a crimanal and should have his name removed from anything the state owns. The state of Alaska is disrepecting all its citizens.

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