1984 and 2010 Olympic and Paralympic celebrations by Mike May

I did a search on Google to find a press release about the White House reception this Wednesday for the Olympic and Paralympic team, which I will be attending. Little did I know that there would be a YouTube video of the 1984 President Reagan speech, which included Ron Salviolo and me, the only disabled skier at the reception. It is so
amazing to briefly relive those moments through President Reagan's voice, hearing about the amazing athletes of the 84 Olympics in Sarajevo who we hung out with. I got goose bumps all over again.

Little did I know in 1984 that I would have the honor of being part of President Obama's delegation to the Paralympics and attending a reception, 26 years later, with 50 Paralympic athletes along with the 2010 Olympic athletes. This YouTube video is courtesy of the Ronald Reagan Library.

2010 U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams Bring Excitement of Games to Washington DC

4/14/2010

President Obama, the First Lady and the White House Office on Olympic, Paralympic and Youth Sport will host Team USA at the White House on Wednesday, April 21. The President and First Lady will congratulate the athletes on their performances and thank them for representing the United States during the Vancouver Olympic Winter Games. They will also discuss the First Lady's Let's Move! campaign to solve the childhood obesity epidemic within a generation. U.S. Teams have visited the White House following an Olympic Games at the
invitation of the President over the past 34 years. More details will be sent out shortly.
See the entire release