2023 -- H 6446

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING BRIAN JOHNSON ON BEING CHOSEN TO REPRESENT SPECIAL

OLYMPICS RHODE ISLAND AND SPECIAL OLYMPICS USA AT THE 2023 SPECIAL

OLYMPICS SUMMER WORLD GAMES IN BERLIN, GERMANY

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Caldwell, Shekarchi, Blazejewski, Craven, Chippendale,
Solomon, Tanzi, Shallcross Smith, and Cruz

     Date Introduced: May 25, 2023

     Referred To: House read and passed

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     WHEREAS, The Special Olympics was founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver and

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today is the world's largest sports organization for people with intellectual disabilities. Currently,

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172 countries and 5 million people take part in year-round activities and training programs, with

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more than 100,000 events being held across the globe; and

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     WHEREAS, The Special Olympics World Games host Summer and Winter games in

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two-year cycles, with each occurring every four years. The 2023 World Games will be held in

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Berlin, Germany, over an eight-day period from June 17 to June 25, 2023. It is expected that

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approximately 7,000 athletes from about 170 countries will compete in 24 sports, with 3,000

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coaches and 20,000 volunteers also attending; and

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     WHEREAS, Brian "Bri" Johnson, who will represent Rhode Island and Special Olympics

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USA at the 2023 Special Olympics Summer World Games, is a member of the Warwick team and

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lives in East Greenwich. He is the son of Ray and Jane Johnson; and

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     WHEREAS, Mr. Johnson is a stellar athlete who has been active with the Special

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Olympics for fourteen years. He has participated in numerous sports including basketball, bocce,

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bowling, cycling, flag football, and volleyball, and will be competing in bocce at the World

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Summer Games; and

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     WHEREAS, Thanks to the Special Olympics, Mr. Johnson has made many new friends,

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and has learned all about the important value of sportsmanship. In 2014, he competed in the

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Special Olympics USA Games in Volleyball and helped his team to win the Gold Medal; and

 

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     WHEREAS, Mr. Johnson is employed at the Market Basket grocery store in Warwick, is

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an advocate for inclusion in the workplace, and has proudly shared the impact and value of his

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Special Olympics experiences with others. His hobbies include making YouTube videos, painting

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rocks, and cheering for his favorite team, the New York Giants. Being a participant at the 2023

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Special Olympics Summer World Games is an incredible achievement, one that Mr. Johnson

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should be proud of attaining and all Rhode Islanders will be heartily cheering him on at the

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Games; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

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congratulates Brian Johnson on being chosen to represent Special Olympics Rhode Island and

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Special Olympics USA at the 2023 Special Olympics World Games in Berlin, and wish him

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continued success in all of his athletic and life endeavors; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mr. Brian Johnson.

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