MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Over 40 years ago, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Special Olympics founder, stood before a crowd of approximately 1,000 athletes and convened the first International Special Olympic Games at Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill.
Following Shriver’s lead, intellectually challenged athletes marched on the sports arena with these words on their lips: “Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”
In the tradition of athletes before them and echoing the same words, approximately 50 intellectually challenged athletes from Hiroshima and Yamaguchi Prefecture competed in the regional Special Olympic Games hosted here Sunday.
More than 40 station members and 130 support staff volunteered their time to help support the event which is observed by more than 3 million other individuals around the world.
“Just a few short weeks ago, Mrs. Shriver passed away and yet her dream continues to live today, right here,” said Lt. Robert Mills, presiding chaplain at the Special Olympics opening ceremony.
Mills said the athletes were given the opportunity during the games to be brave in the attempt and take part in Shriver’s dream as they tested their strength, speed and skills.
The athletes eagerly tried their skills and abilities in cycling, basketball games in the Iron-Works Gym, Frisbee and soccer competitions at Penny Lake and bowling at the Strike Zone.
“Because of their handicaps, they really don’t have very much confidence in themselves,” said Frank Thornton, Special Olympics Hiroshima sports program director. “They wonder why they are different from everybody, but if you bring them out here to compete with other people, they start to feel that they are not different from everybody.”
Events like the Special Olympics help build the intellectually challenged individuals’ confidence and shows them they really aren’t that different from everybody else, Thornton said.
Proving they were no different, the Special Olympic athletes felt the same feelings of pride and sense of worth that top athletes like Michael Phelps and Lance Armstrong feel in competitions.
“I‘ve been practicing and wanted to prove myself today,” said Shouno Aoki, a 12-year-old Special Olympian cyclist. “Riding my bike felt really great. I like the way the wind feels on my face when I ride.”
Aoki said he wanted to go faster but he couldn’t, and all he could do was try his best.
Many of the volunteering service members were glad they could be a part of the day’s event and were amazed at the competitors’ abilities.
Lance Cpl. Nicholas Montiel, a Special Olympic volunteer, said he was really surprised a young 7-year-old competitor was beating him and his friend at bowling.
“She’s tiny,” said Montiel. “She’s rolling an eight pound ball over there and she’s scoring higher than me and the other Marine. She lit up with excitement whenever she got a strike.”
Montiel said he loved being a part of the day’s activities.
To bring the day’s event to an end, Col. Michael A. O’Halloran, station commanding officer, and his wife, Candice O’Halloran, were on-hand at the bowling center for the closing ceremony.
O’Halloran and his wife presented each participant with a medal to commemorate the competitors’ efforts during the games.
O’Halloran said he wanted to congratulate each participant and thank the volunteering community members for giving their time to such a beautiful event.
Shriver dreamed up the event to bring joy to the intellectually challenged and their families and to bring them together with volunteering community members.
She dreamed up the event to accomplish all that was accomplished aboard the station here Sunday.