2023 -- H 6446
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S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND
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 CHO SEN TO REPRESENT SPECIAL
OLYMPICS RHODE ISLAN D AND SPECIAL OLYMPICS USA AT THE 2023 SPECIAL
OLYMPICS SUMMER WORL D 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
WHEREAS, The Special Olympics was founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver and 1
today is the world's largest sports organization for people with intellectual disabilities. Currently, 2
172 countries and 5 million people take part in year-round activities and training programs, with 3
more than 100,000 events being held across the globe; and 4
WHEREAS, The Special Olympics World Games host Summer and Winter games in 5
two-year cycles, with each occurring every four years. The 2023 World Games will be held in 6
Berlin, Germany, over an eight-day period from June 17 to June 25, 2023. It is expected that 7
approximately 7,000 athletes from about 170 countries will compete in 24 sports, with 3,000 8
coaches and 20,000 volunteers also attending; and 9
WHEREAS, Brian "Bri" Johnson, who will represent Rhode Island and Special Olympics 10
USA at the 2023 Special Olympics Summer World Games, is a member of the Warwick team and 11
lives in East Greenwich. He is the son of Ray and Jane Johnson; and 12
WHEREAS, Mr. Johnson is a stellar athlete who has been active with the Special 13
Olympics for fourteen years. He has participated in numerous sports including basketball, bocce, 14
bowling, cycling, flag football, and volleyball, and will be competing in bocce at the World 15
Summer Games; and 16
WHEREAS, Thanks to the Special Olympics, Mr. Johnson has made many new friends, 17
and has learned all about the important value of sportsmanship. In 2014, he competed in the 18
Special Olympics USA Games in Volleyball and helped his team to win the Gold Medal; and 19
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WHEREAS, Mr. Johnson is employed at the Market Basket grocery store in Warwick, is 1
an advocate for inclusion in the workplace, and has proudly shared the impact and value of his 2
Special Olympics experiences with others. His hobbies include making YouTube videos, painting 3
rocks, and cheering for his favorite team, the New York Giants. Being a participant at the 2023 4
Special Olympics Summer World Games is an incredible achievement, one that Mr. Johnson 5
should be proud of attaining and all Rhode Islanders will be heartily cheering him on at the 6
Games; now, therefore be it 7
RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby 8
congratulates Brian Johnson on being chosen to represent Special Olympics Rhode Island and 9
Special Olympics USA at the 2023 Special Olympics World Games in Berlin, and wish him 10
continued success in all of his athletic and life endeavors; and be it further 11
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to 12
transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mr. Brian Johnson. 13
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