Special Olympics provide ‘training for life’

By Edina Lekovic

Summer Bruin Senior Staff

Shouting their oath, "Let me win; but if I cannot win let me be
brave in the attempt," more than 1300 athletes stood in Drake
Stadium on Friday, officially opening the first annual Southern
California Special Olympics Summer Games.

Held at UCLA for over 15 years, the Summer Games brought
together nearly 4000 athletes and volunteers from throughout
Southern California.

The1996 games marked the first time in over 25 years that the
event excluded competitors from Northern California. In the past,
the Summer Games have been a competition between athletes from all
over California, but organizers decided to divide the state into
two regions to allow more participation.

"We were able to enlarge the program and bring more athletes
from Southern California than ever by splitting up the state," said
Dick Van Kirk, CEO of the Southern California Special Olympics.

For 28 years, the Special Olympics program has provided athletic
training and competition for mentally retarded children and adults.
Organizers said they hope to integrate their athletes into society
by promoting understanding and acceptance of people with mental
retardation.

"The efforts of the (Special Olympics) volunteers has already
changed how this country treats people with mental retardation,"
said Rafer Johnson, an Olympic gold medalist in the decathlon and a
founding board member of the California branch of Special Olympics.
"The reason we always come is so that we can see our athletes
become the best they can be."

Organizers emphasized the importance of the games in light of
the quickly approaching Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, and were
quick to show the parallels between the two games.

"You don’t have to go to Atlanta to have an Olympic experience,"
Van Kirk said.

The Summer Games include six events, including track and field,
basketball, aquatics and gymnastics. Although Southern California
Special Olympics holds competitions for 19 individual and team
sports throughout the year, the Summer Games is the largest
competition by far, officials said.

Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Special Olympics has
since grown to include 1.1 million athletes in 143 countries. The
California branch of the Special Olympics was created in 1969.

Organizers said they are able to put on such an expansive event
only through the help of corporate and private sponsors, who often
donate not only money, but manpower to Special Olympics. Over 130
volunteers from the Walt Disney Company took part in this weekend’s
activities.

"There is such purity and commitment in the athletes," Phil
Nemy, an executive at the Walt Disney Company and head of the
Disney’s volunteers, said. "Once you (volunteer) once, you’re
hooked."

While officials said that Special Olympics changes the lives of
the athletes, they also noted the effect the program has on the
nearly 2,500 volunteers.

"A lot of people take vacation time to come work their butts
off," Nemy said. "The athletes are incredible people and make this
an unforgettable experience."

I defy anyone to come out and not be affected (by the
experience)," Nemy added.

Nancy Ward, director of development and communications for
Southern California Special Olympics, was drawn to the organization
after she saw a videotape which featured 12 athletes.

"I wondered how could anyone not want to be involved?" she said.
"It was just too amazing an experience to pass up."

Officials noted that many of the athletes return to Special
Olympics year after year.

Elaine Hartman has been a competitor in Special Olympics for
over 20 years. As part of Athletes for Outreach, Hartman helps
recruit sponsors and educates the public by speaking about Special
Olympics.

"I like the feeling of competition, and I like to win," Hartman
said. "I also like the energy that comes from everybody here."

Ward emphasized the team effort involved in putting together the
Summer Games.

"You have close to 3,000 people who don’t know each other, but
somehow, they pull it off and create an unforgettable event," Ward
said.

Officials said they continue to use UCLA because of the quality
of the facilities.

"UCLA has the best collection of venues," said Nancy Ward,
director of development and communications for Southern California
Special Olympics. "There aren’t that many sites that have
everything so centralized. There are less expensive venues, but
there’s not a better package."

Various campus organizations have helped raise money for the
games. The UCLA Police Department participated in a 1,200 mile,
statewide law enforcement Torch Run which raised over $106,000 and
will go directly to local Special Olympics programs throughout
Southern California to fund training and buy uniforms for the
athletes.

This 1996 Summer Games also included the first annual Ed
O’Bannon Three-on-Three Celebrity Basketball Tournament, projected
to raise more than $15,000. The tournament was designed "to allow
the public to come out and do something to help raise money for
Special Olympics," Ward said.

The Anderson School of Management was one of the largest
on-campus groups to raise funds for Special Olympics. Management
and students participated in the "MBA Challenge for Charity," a
fundraising competition between college campuses across Southern
California. UCLA, which raised $75,000 this year, is the
unchallenged champion of the annual fundraiser, said Ward.

"We’re very fortunate that lots of people are affected by the
(Special Olympics) program and are willing to support it," Ward
said.

GENEVIEVE LIANG

A Southern California Special Olympian accepts his gold medal
after winning the 400-meter race in Drake Stadium. GENEVIEVE
LIANG

A Special Olympics volunteer and an athlete unwind at the dance
tent in Olympic Village, located outside Pauley Pavilion.

"Let me win; but if I cannot win let me be brave in the
attempt."