Rick Francis flying at Special Olympics
Sault Star Staff, The Sault Star, March 10, 2001

Sault Ste. Marie's Rick Francis is off to a fine start at the 2001 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Anchorage, Alaska. Francis, one of the Canada's world class special Olympians, has finished second in the cross-country 7.5-kilomrtre ski race and is third in the five-kilometre race. His times were 25:08:30 in the 7.5-km event and 14:29:70 in the five-km race. Francis's accomplishments in these two events is impressive considering that 34 athletes from around the world competed in the 7.5-km run while 61were entered in the five-km event.

Another Sault special Olympian at the games is Harvey Arcangeletti. He participated in the torch run that brought the Flame of Hope to the opening ceremonies.

The 2001 Special Olympics World Winter Games is billed as the largest global sporting event of 2001 with hundreds of participants from all parts of the globe.