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Special Olympics
It was only the second area Special Olympic Event I had attended. In fact I wasn't much involved in Special Olympics until our son, Jason decided he would accept Mr. Moore's invitation to try bowling. Oh, we gave our token donation but that was about it. Then Jason was involved and that made us involved.
The first area Special Olympic event I got to see was a bowling tournament held here at the Cornhusker Lanes this winter. The second was the area Special Olympic swim and basketball competition held in Scottsbluff and Gering this past week. The first thing that happens at the contests is the "Parade of Athletes" where each team marches in as a unit to the Olympic theme song followed by the National Anthem. Each team mate has a uniform for the march. Since Jason and Ben were new and did not have any, Julie unselfishly loaned them uniforms from her son and husband. That is one of the things Special Olympics is all about - looking out for the other guy.
At the Ogallala event, as the athletes were marching in, there was a commotion and all of the athletes stopped. The lead team had a player who had stopped to tie his shoe. Everyone waited and you could hear the message being passed along, "It's okay, Brian has to tie his shoe."
Once the athletes have marched in, they recite the pledge. "Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt." All of the events have the same thing in common. It doesn't matter what size, color, shape, or ability the athlete possesses. It doesn't matter if the athlete is male or female, big or small, tall or short, skinny or fat, young or old. It doesn't even matter if the athlete can walk or talk or his muscles don't work quite right. What does matter is that every athlete plays and every athlete participates.
It was a joy just to watch them and be a part of the event in that way. Take Eddie for instance. Eddie is a man who experiences Down's Syndrome. Eddie is a swimmer and was entered in the 25-yard free style event. The starter asked, "Athletes are you ready?" Eddie was ready. He jumped right in ahead of the fair start, and furiously paddled and swam his way to the end of the pool with the spectators cheering him on, until he touched the side. The timer and coach congratulated him. Then I heard the coach say, "Eddie that was a magnificent swim. You did great. I tell you what, you did such a good job, we want you to do it all over again. But next time, the starter will ask if you are ready, then he will say "set", then he will say "go". When he says "go", THEN you jump in the water and swim. Wait for him to say go. Can you do that?" Eddie grinned and nodded his head. He climbed out of the pool and marched to the starting point. This time Eddie waited for the fair start. I don't remember if Eddie won, but I do remember the encouragement his coach gave him. There were no recriminations for false starting. Only encouragement.
I saw this support demonstrated time and again throughout the day, not only from the coaches and parents, but from athlete to athlete. Jason was not competing in the swimming but his friend Kim from Scottsbluff was. This was Kim's first time for swimming and he was nervous. But Kim boldly entered the water and completed his event. Afterwards he came up to us and said he wanted to sit with us at lunch. What a nice honor that was for us.
In the afternoon the athletes played basketball. Once again this was a delight to see. All of the athletes gathered in a circle and piled hands on hands and the cheer word was "fun" not "win." All of the athletes played. Of course each team was cheering for their teammates, but they also clapped when the opposing side scored. Tri County (that's our team) was ahead at first but then fell behind to Scottsbluff. One of the Scottsbluff 's players had been trying and trying to score. Finally, he hit a basket. Our Jason was so excited for him that they exchanged high fives. I was moved to tears. I knew then that Jason had the Special Olympic spirit. Winning is okay-but "let me be brave in the attempt" was demonstrated once more.
When it was time for the 3-point contest the athletes confidently tried for baskets. Watching from the sidelines we could see the waiting athletes giving support to the one shooting the baskets. It didn't matter when no baskets were made by an athlete. Each was congratulated by the coaches and team mates for the effort. I have never seen such bravery, such courage. And in the face of overwhelming odds, these courageous athletes compete and win. They meet the challenge and move forward a step at a time. "Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt." Victory is not always to the swift or to the strong. Here, victory is in the attempt.
Voices of the Community, March 29, 2000, Keith County News, Susan Gieschen, March 23, 2000, copyright 2000
Posted August 13th, 2007
The first area Special Olympic event I got to see was a bowling tournament held here at the Cornhusker Lanes this winter. The second was the area Special Olympic swim and basketball competition held in Scottsbluff and Gering this past week. The first thing that happens at the contests is the "Parade of Athletes" where each team marches in as a unit to the Olympic theme song followed by the National Anthem. Each team mate has a uniform for the march. Since Jason and Ben were new and did not have any, Julie unselfishly loaned them uniforms from her son and husband. That is one of the things Special Olympics is all about - looking out for the other guy.
At the Ogallala event, as the athletes were marching in, there was a commotion and all of the athletes stopped. The lead team had a player who had stopped to tie his shoe. Everyone waited and you could hear the message being passed along, "It's okay, Brian has to tie his shoe."
Once the athletes have marched in, they recite the pledge. "Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt." All of the events have the same thing in common. It doesn't matter what size, color, shape, or ability the athlete possesses. It doesn't matter if the athlete is male or female, big or small, tall or short, skinny or fat, young or old. It doesn't even matter if the athlete can walk or talk or his muscles don't work quite right. What does matter is that every athlete plays and every athlete participates.
It was a joy just to watch them and be a part of the event in that way. Take Eddie for instance. Eddie is a man who experiences Down's Syndrome. Eddie is a swimmer and was entered in the 25-yard free style event. The starter asked, "Athletes are you ready?" Eddie was ready. He jumped right in ahead of the fair start, and furiously paddled and swam his way to the end of the pool with the spectators cheering him on, until he touched the side. The timer and coach congratulated him. Then I heard the coach say, "Eddie that was a magnificent swim. You did great. I tell you what, you did such a good job, we want you to do it all over again. But next time, the starter will ask if you are ready, then he will say "set", then he will say "go". When he says "go", THEN you jump in the water and swim. Wait for him to say go. Can you do that?" Eddie grinned and nodded his head. He climbed out of the pool and marched to the starting point. This time Eddie waited for the fair start. I don't remember if Eddie won, but I do remember the encouragement his coach gave him. There were no recriminations for false starting. Only encouragement.
I saw this support demonstrated time and again throughout the day, not only from the coaches and parents, but from athlete to athlete. Jason was not competing in the swimming but his friend Kim from Scottsbluff was. This was Kim's first time for swimming and he was nervous. But Kim boldly entered the water and completed his event. Afterwards he came up to us and said he wanted to sit with us at lunch. What a nice honor that was for us.
In the afternoon the athletes played basketball. Once again this was a delight to see. All of the athletes gathered in a circle and piled hands on hands and the cheer word was "fun" not "win." All of the athletes played. Of course each team was cheering for their teammates, but they also clapped when the opposing side scored. Tri County (that's our team) was ahead at first but then fell behind to Scottsbluff. One of the Scottsbluff 's players had been trying and trying to score. Finally, he hit a basket. Our Jason was so excited for him that they exchanged high fives. I was moved to tears. I knew then that Jason had the Special Olympic spirit. Winning is okay-but "let me be brave in the attempt" was demonstrated once more.
When it was time for the 3-point contest the athletes confidently tried for baskets. Watching from the sidelines we could see the waiting athletes giving support to the one shooting the baskets. It didn't matter when no baskets were made by an athlete. Each was congratulated by the coaches and team mates for the effort. I have never seen such bravery, such courage. And in the face of overwhelming odds, these courageous athletes compete and win. They meet the challenge and move forward a step at a time. "Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt." Victory is not always to the swift or to the strong. Here, victory is in the attempt.
Voices of the Community, March 29, 2000, Keith County News, Susan Gieschen, March 23, 2000, copyright 2000
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