Special Olympics give hope
Cassandra Kimberly, Charger Staff
 They run, jump, swim, lift weights, play basketball, volleyball,
and many other sports that force even the most able-bodied people
to stretch their limitations.
These extreme enthusiasts train for events for several weeks with
as much and sometimes even more vigor than the average athlete.
The only difference is that these athletes aren’t the average
players--they are above average in both spirit and determination.
With the Special Olympics oath of “Let me win. But if I cannot
win, let me be brave in the attempt,” special education groups
are encouraged to participate and strive for new and greater goals
for themselves by competing against each other for “the gold.”
Created in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the Special Olympics
has given the opportunity for hundreds of thousands of adults and
children with disabilities to develop their own athletic skill
and
show the rest of the world that they are not as different as they
are perceived to be.
Courtney Williams, an inspiring young lady from Cookeville High
School who has participated in the Special Olympics before, said “I know we can do it.
People think we are different but we are not. We are special in
our own little way.”
Taking part in recreational activities such as bowling competitions
at Bowling World, basketball, volleyball, and track races held
at
Tennessee Technological University, and swim meets at the YMCA
, special education students work to beat their previous records
and
even earn ribbons for participation and often first, second, and
third places.
The Special Olympics creates a healthy environment for people to
learn new activities and get great exercise while building self-esteem.
Connie Strong, a special education instructor, said “If they
try something new or beat their record, they are more confident.”
The enthusiasm and energy students had while talking about the
Special Olympics made everyone realize how important the events
are to them.
Freddie Lopez by far had the most inspiring quote saying “You
don’t know how much effort we put into it. It shows what we’ve
got. We are special-ed kids, but that’s not all that we are.”
These young zealots are living proof that the Special Olympics
has one of the most positive impacts on the world today.
This page prepared for the web by J. Wheeler and S. Linger
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