Twelve of Special Olympics New York’s finest set to march at the head of the parade; World Games participant Sean O’Rourke will cut the ribbon.
(New York, New York USA) — More than 60 million television viewers will tune in as a dozen Special Olympics New York athletes kick off and star in Broadway’s biggest show: The 77th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday, 27 November.
The parade will air on NBC and Telemundo from 9 a.m. EST until noon.
Special Olympics New York athlete Sean O’Rourke of Bayshore, a 25-year-old who completed the half-marathon at the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games (the World Games held in Dublin, Ireland featured more than 7,000 athletes with mental retardation from 150 countries), will cut the ribbon at 77th Street and Central Park West, officially starting a 5,000-person procession that will include 10 marching bands, 15 character balloons and performers such as singer Clay Aiken. The parade participants will travel to the 7th Avenue finish via Columbus Circle, Broadway and 34th Street.
Special Olympics New York participants will walk at the front of the parade. More than two million New Yorkers are expected to line the 2.5-mile route.
In addition to O’Rourke, Special Olympics New York marchers will include: Manhattan’s Anthony Arriaga, 20, Felix Eng, 14, and Anthony Hassan, 18; 13-year-old twins Shaylah and Kaylah Williams of Brooklyn; Medford’s Matt Schuster, 20; Alyssa Scroope, 15, of Smithtown; 14-year-old Adam Stein of Katonah; 15-year-old E.J. Greczylo of Shenorock; and Staten Island’s Sasha Alexander, 15, and Alan Russo, 15.
Special Olympics New York is one the largest Special Olympics programs in the United States, providing sports opportunities to nearly 40,000 athletes through a network of 30,000 volunteers.
Contact
Doreen Hand, Special Olympics New York
+1 (212) 661-3963
+1 (908) 612-8610 (Mobile)
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