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Downtown mural signals Winter Games are near

BY ANNA WEBB - awebb@idahostatesman.com

Published: 01/02/09


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Katherine Jones / kjones@idahostatesman.com
Northwest Nazarene University students created the mural on the fence around the proposed Boise Tower celebrating the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games.

Just 38 days and counting.

During the next month, expect to see more and more evidence that the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games are headed this way.

The countdown to the Games, which kick off Feb. 7 with a grand opening ceremony at the Idaho Center, started Tuesday morning in Downtown Boise with the installation of a new piece of public art.

The mural at the corner of 8th and Main streets, the site of the proposed Boise Tower and former home of the Eastman Building, will be in place throughout the games.

A number of groups, including students from the Northwest Nazarene University business and art departments, local companies, and the Boise City Department of Art and History, worked with the Winter Games to create and install the piece.

Heather Hill from the games' Boise office said one portion of the mural focuses on the philosophies behind the games - inclusion, confidence and joy.

The other portion focuses on a second and timely theme: the "greening" of the event.

Bill Russell, associate dean of the School of Business at Northwest Nazarene University, said the mural uses icons created by students at NNU to illustrate steps people can take to be a part of a global greening effort.

The icons also will appear on gift bags and refillable water bottles given to participating athletes.

Hill said the mural is meant not only to "dress up the Downtown area" in honor of the Games, but to educate the community and invite people to participate as fans and supporters.

The games will end with a closing ceremony Feb. 13 at the Idaho Center.

Anna Webb: 377-6431

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