NORMAN — With support from community members, 2,337 athletes gathered Thursday through Saturday in Norman for the 2012 Oklahoma Special Olympic Winter Games.
The athletes, who have intellectual disabilities or cognitive delays, competed in aquatics, bowling, volleyball and basketball over the three-day event at the University of Oklahoma Huston Huffman Fitness Center.
The Special Olympics provides many opportunities for the athletes, ages 8-years and up, Jennifer Lightle, Special Olympics Oklahoma special events director said.
“Special Olympics gives not only an opportunity to participate and perform but gives them life skills and gives them self-confidence, discipline and the ability to be with others,” she said. “There’s so much more that it does than an opportunity to compete.”
Sitting watching his son play basketball, Jim Calhoun said his son, Andrew, has been participating in year-round Special Olympic sporting events since he was 8-years old.
Andrew is now 26, and Calhoun said Andrew’s participation has taught him game fundamentals, but more importantly, taught him the importance of teamwork and friendship.
Calhoun, who is also a basketball coach for the organization, said being around the athletes is a good experience for him, too.
“The kids have great hearts and that’s what it’s all about,” he said. “It’s awesome for the kids, it really is.”
Cathi Morris, Special Olympics Oklahoma program services director, said family participation in the events not only provides support to the athletes but also allows the athletes and family members a sense of community and belonging.
The social aspect, including the competition, is what most of the athletes enjoy the most, Morris said, but competition also provides physical advantages.
“This gives them that opportunity to be physical because we are a sports-training and competition program, not just recreation,” she said about the many year-round sporting activities the organization provides. “So they’re getting the opportunity to learn a sport, to become more physically fit, get off the couch, and it’s going to help to prolong lives, it really is. That is a big part of it.”
Lightle said the many advantages provided to the athletes wouldn’t be possible without support from community members and organizations such as the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Torch Run.
The Torch Run is the biggest grassroots effort for Special Olympics Oklahoma, she said, and in 2011 law enforcement individuals across the state were able to raise more than $300,000.
This money allows approximately 9,500 athletes to participate in Special Olympic events free of cost, she said.
“This is a great way for them to partner up, be in a positive atmosphere and they are protecting some of our most vulnerable citizens, which of course, are the athletes, and this is an opportunity for them to get to be with the athletes, raise awareness about special Olympics and raise funds.”
Law enforcement agencies represented at the event included OU police, Midwest City police, Tulsa police and Canadian County Sheriff’s office.
