Photo from the Torch Run across Pennsylvania in preparation for the games.
Team Athletes at the kickoff breakfast Saturday morning
He's had all he wanted.
A little entertainment for the more restless of the group on Saturday morning. Guitar and kazoo duets.
Hey man, can you play Sweet Home Alabama?
US Olympic Snowboarder Chris Klug signs autographs at the Expo prior to the Games. He received a liver transplant in 2001 and competed and medaled at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. He is on track to compete again in 2010
Panel 29 of the National Donor Quilt. Delaney's patch is the 6th from the left, on the 2nd row down.
Laney's patch a little closer
Hunter and Cameron, from Mobile. His family is both a recipient and donor family. Cameron's older sister Chelsea was a double lung heart recipient. She passed away in 2007 and was also a donor.
Pin collecting is a big deal for the kids (well, the adults, too). Most teams have a team pin. The toughest to get this year are New Mexico, Maine and Maryland. Last time it was Hawaii
Team Alabama donor families lining up behind the scenes for the processional into the opening ceremonies.
Team Alabama living donors entering the lineup for the opening ceremony.
Host Team Pittsburgh enters the Convention Center at the start of the opening ceremonies
Lost some of the details, but the young lady in the middle received a life saving transplant as an infant, from the infant daughter and sister of the ladies in blue. They had just met hours before.
Actor Larry Hagman shows off his scars from his liver transplant nearly 13 years ago. He is a regular at all the Games and insists on recipients showing their scars as memorial to their second chance at life
Sunday morning, waiting for the start of the 5k. In the chair, ready to go, is Austin, a heart recipient. You've seen his athlete profile on the Team Alabama site. He made it, along with his family sitting around him. On the far left is Andrew, another of our recipients, with his mother, getting ready to run.
l-r. Tess (aka the hat lady, best friend of kids, and living donor to her husband Jim, our team co-captain), Austin's mom Stephanie, and Sharrie
George, from Birmingham, ready for the 5k. He is a liver recipient from Birmingham and a 2006 silver medalist in discus.
Nick and Andrew in the 5k. Both are recipients
Vivian, Joanne, Margaret and Charlie in the 5k. Vivian and Joanne are recipients, Charlie and Margaret's daughter Chelsea was a heart-double lung recipient, and they are now a donor family as well.
Ben and his new friend Connor, a heart recipient, after the 5k.
Megan during a time out in the Adult Co-ed Basketball Tournament. Just prior to her 'mugging' call. She's serious about DEFENSE
Austin between games Sunday night. The youth 3-on-3 team played 3 games Sunday night. They won all three and advanced to the finals Monday night. One more win will secure them a medal finish
Little Joe between b-ball games. He scored the first two goals in Sunday nites final game to put us ahead over Mississippi. Team Alabama held on to win, pulling ahead 10-8 with 10 seconds left.
Ben makes another new friend, Daniel, whose sister Takiya competes on the youth b-ball team
Brian keeping an eye on the last youth b-ball game of the night. It was tense, at 8-8, until Brooke hit the winning basket at 10 seconds left
Ariel and Brit in their rally hats at the 3-on-3 tourney. Kathy provides 'security'
Joann tosses the shotput on Monday at Carnegie Mellon in track and field. The ladies had a great showing today
Vivian puts the shot, or however it is said. She's not letting the prosthetic leg slow her down. She brought home the gold in this event
Carter making his gold medal toss. He won in his age division
My new little friend who needed a hug.
Our old friend Maureen, from Philly. We met her and her husband Geoff in Louisville last Games. She and Brit really hit it off then. Good to see them again.
Austin competes in the badminton tournament. he took home bronze.
Austin at the badminton medal awards. Team Pittsburgh and Team Philly took silver and gold, respectively
Railroad bridge outside the convention center. This is just upstream of Heinz Field, where the Steelers play
Two more downtown bridges. These 3 were all built within a year of one another and are I-bar suspension bridges.
Brittney poses in front of the teams' quilt from 2006
Cody catches up on the news
Co-manager Joanne (r) coordinates with the manager from Team Pittsburgh
Stan, our resident photog and videographer coordinates with our other photo snappers to cover all the competitions.
Andrew guards the goal, looking for a rebound in the semi-final game with Team Indiana. Team Alabama pulled it out with a solid win.
Brooke (l) and Keira (r) in the semi-final
Austin pauses while he checks the ball with Indiana
Ben cheers on Team Alabama. His favorite cheer (and only one): Go Joe-joe Go! Everyone in the photo is Team Alabama
Team pep talk prior to the final game for the Gold with Team Philly, our big rival in this (and past) games. You wont see any game photos of the final unless someone else took them. Too much excitement. Team Philly is a great competitor and played well, with a large, loud boisterous cheering section, rivalling ours. They pulled out to a strong lead, nearly routing us with their taller and more experienced players. Team Alabama didnt give up and fought back to within 4 at the final buzzer, nearly a major upset.
Medal ceremony for the 3-on-3 youth basketball. We went 4-1 and brought home silver, losing only to Team Philly.
Medal totals as of Monday night. Tuesday brought several more totals, with Brooke medaling gold(?) in cycling. Volleyball was played today and some bowling medals are expected this evening. Competitions start at 8a and some run to 10p, especially basketball. Most of our athletes are multiple-sport and go all day with several competitions a day. Our competitors range in age from 4 to the early 70's.
