Fort Kent receives praise as games end

FORT KENT – After six days of competition and six days of training at the 10th Mountain Division Lodge of the Maine Winter Sports Center, athletes and officials celebrated Sunday night the first world championships ever held in Maine.

Athletes, who were presented medals after each competition, were honored with crystal trophies – a replica of the world atop a clear pedestal – and volunteers and local officials were presented tokens of appreciation for their work at the International Paralympic Committee’s Nordic World Championships that ended Sunday afternoon.

Nearly 400 people attended the gala at the University of Maine-Fort Kent’s SportsCenter.

“The athletes came here to achieve sports excellence and to excite and inspire the world,” Rita Van Driel, chairman of the IPC’s Nordic Committee, told the crowd. “They achieved both goals.

“It was wonderful high-level event,” the woman from the Netherlands said. “All of our requirements were fulfilled by the local committee.”

The night of celebration was attended by most athletes, although some had to leave after the events Sunday afternoon because of airline schedules, and they were made to feel at home.

The UMFK gymnasium had two large video screens showing their efforts on the trails of the MWSC, large flags of every nation that competed in the games were displayed on one wall, and officials talked of their tenacity and courage.

Athletes celebrated with the people who made it happen. They drank beer from their crystal trophies, and talked about their performances, and shared their experiences with their new-found friends.

Paul Grant and his wife Annette Grant both received permanently mounted posters of the games, like all event chairmen did. Since they had two of the same, they gave one to Steve Cook, the American athlete who won the overall world title in standing men’s cross country skiing.

“Remarkable is the word to describe the people of Fort Kent and the athletes who competed here,” Sen. Susan Collins said. “Once again Fort Kent has proven that it is ‘The Little Town That Could.'”

Dr. Richard Cost, president of UMFK said, “It’s been an exhilarating two weeks, and we participated in something very special. Courage and determination, are the two words to describe these athletes who showed us another level of the meaning of these two words.

“You showed all of us that you compete like world class athletes,” he added. “Thank you all for competing.”

Nancy Thibodeau, head of the organizing committee which organized the games was pleased with the events, and the the volunteers, who made it all happen.

“We were nervous about the athletes and the adaptability of the venue,” Thibodeau said. “It was challenging for us, especially when we received more than 20 inches of snow during the event.

“Everything went well. The athletes were pleased, and they had good, close competitions,” she said.

“The community and volunteers found the competitions inspiring and enlightening,” she added. “For many of us it changed the way we look at life after seeing these handicapped athletes give it their all.

“Volunteers, I hope you all feel the pride that I do,” she said. “This was just remarkable.”

Van Driel said the games came to Fort Kent because of what community and the Maine Winter Sports Center did with the Biathlon World Cup last year.

“Our job is to make sure special requirements are in place,” She said. “These competitions were fantastic, and it was done by an organization that only wants to do their best.

“It was impressive to see what such a small community can do, and put on an event like this,” she added. “Everyone was always asking what else they could do.”

She said she did not hear any complaints from athletes and their support staffs during the entire period.

“We are pleased with all your efforts, and we want to thank all of you, Fort Kent,” Lev Seleznev, vice president of the Russian Disabled Skiers Association said through an interpreter at the gala. “You worked very hard, [and] you made us all welcome to your home.”

Before it all ended, Brian McKeever, a visually-impaired Canadian skier, thanked the organizing committee on behalf of all the athletes.

“We will come back again,” he promised.