At the closing ceremony of the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games all athletes were the winners.
A huge dance party rocked the Idaho Centre after the Olympic flame was doused and the flag had been handed over to Greece where the next Summer World Games will be held in 2011.
The Kiwi team comprised of 11 athletes won 2 gold and 5 silver medals in the snowboarding and alpine skiing events.
Thomas van der Lugt (22) from Dunedin won a gold medal in the advandced Super G and a silver medal in the advaced Giant Slalom.
The athletes will return in New Zealand on Wednesday with van der Lugt arriving at Dunedin Airport at 4pm. It would be amazing to have a crowd there to welcome these outstanding athletes.
