The Oregon Special Olympics Summer Games took place last weekend at Hayward Field, and many athletes had a chance to fulfill their dreams of competing in the Olympics, even if they weren’t in Sydney.
The annual event, which featured more than 1,200 athletes and 900 volunteers, brought together Special Olympians from all over Oregon. The Special Olympics Summer Games are one of five events hosted by the Special Olympics Oregon chapter. The Summer Games are the largest of those five events.
The athletes competed in a wide variety of events, from power lifting to power walking, and from volleyball to the 100 meter dash.
“Each athlete receives a medal or a ribbon for his or her efforts,” volunteer coordinator Linda Kirkland said.
The emphasis at the Special Olympics is evident in the organizer’s oath: “Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”
Other events at the Special Olympics included shotput, long jump, wheelchair races and gymnastics.
The Special Olympians had been training for eight weeks leading up to the Summer Games. They will now begin training for the next events, which include softball and golf.
Friday, representatives from law enforcement agencies and community and business volunteers came out for the Law Enforcement Torch Run, an annual Special Olympics fund-raiser.
On Saturday, Eugene Mayor Jim Torrey and Springfield Mayor-elect Sid Leiken made appearances at the opening ceremonies. Saturday night there was a Victory Dance at the Lane County Fairgrounds, which gave the athletes a chance to connect in a social setting.
Meanwhile, Hayward Field was turned into a spectacle over the weekend for the Special Olympics. Tents with bingo, eye exams and merchandise — combined with the hot weather — gave Oregon’s track stadium the feel of a grand festival.
That festival was run with the help of hundreds of people who gave up their time to lend a helping hand.
“The Special Olympics would not exist without volunteers,” said Kirkland.
Each team of athletes was coached by a volunteer, while hundreds more sold merchandise, timed the athletes and gave out lunches. The volunteers took Polaroid pictures of all the athletes as they crossed the finish line, leaving them with a souvenir of their Olympic experiences.
“This is athlete driven, but volunteer organized,” Kirkland said.
There are over 10,000 Special Olympics volunteers statewide.
The Special Olympics also exist on a national level, and some of the athletes that competed in the events over the weekend could represent Oregon on a larger stage.
One of the four main Special Olympics events is held with international athletes every year. Some athletes will travel to Alaska this winter for the Special Olympics World Winter Games, host to more than 2,000 Special Olympians.
The Special Olympics have been providing an outlet for those with mental and physical retardation since 1968, when Eunice Shriver held the first international games in Chicago. Today, 150 countries and all 50 states have Special Olympics.