Champions
Athletes outdistance handicaps
The Oregon Special
Olympics attracted thousands
of participants, coaches and
volunteers to Hayward Field on
Friday and Saturday Over
1,700 competitors took part in
track and field events designed
for mentally and physically
handicapped athletes
Opening ceremonies Friday
afternoon brought University
Pres Paul Olum, Portland
Trailblazer coach Jack Ramsay
and Oregon State University
football coach Joe Avezzano to
the field
Participants paraded around
Stevenson's Track prior to the
lighting of the Special Olympic
torch. Opening ceremonies
also included the Marist High
School stage band and a
shower of skydivers
Paul Olum looks over his
shoulder as he leaves the VIP
stand. The opening ceremonies
are just ending. He is smiling.
"I had tears in my eyes
watching those kids march
around the track," he says.
Photo by Erich Bookolhoide
The lighting of the torch marked the opening ol the 1982 Oregon
Special Olympic* at Hayward Field on Friday.
"The looks in their faces were
just wonderful."
The loudspeaker broadcasts
the first events. Olum looks
around the crowded track.
"This event is really great,"
he adds. "I was really very
moved."
The competitors took part in
13 events, including the 50
and 200-yard dash, standing
broad jump and softball throw.
Volunteers and coaches
numbered almost 1,000 Many
volunteers worked as "official
huggers," greeting and
cheering participants at the
finish line.
The University Sigma Phi
Epsilon fraternity chapter
volunteered as supporters for
the event Other groups which
donated their time included the
American Legion and the
Eugene Active 20-30 Club
A young giri running in the
200-yard dash is finishing last.
She watches the others cross
the line before her. Frustrated,
she stops ten yards short. The
huggers behind the finish line
call to her. One stretches out
her arms. The girl's face lights
up.
She crosses the finish line,
into the hugger's arms.
"The Olympics are what we
talk about all year," said a
Grants Pass special education
teacher. "The kids plan for
them and practice for them. It's
really their highlight.”
She added that the
independence the students get
— an ovemiaht stay in Eugene,
a Friday night dance — is just
as important as the Olympics.
"Many of these kids don't
know they're competing,” she
pointed out. "The medals, the
hugs, the crowds That's what
they understand."
A hugger looks sadly toward
the awards booth.
"There was one little boy who
got first in his race," she says.
"He knew it, too. But the judges
gave him an eighth-place
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Photo by Br&nt Walth
An Oregon Special Olympics volunteer hugs a smiling athlete who
has crossed the finish line.
ribbon instead. How do you
explain that to him?"
She looks to the crowed
stands and slowly shakes her
head.
“I'd like to grab a whole box of
those medals and give them
out to all these kids. They all try
so hard."
Nearly all Oregon counties
were represented, according to
Olympics officials. "You can't
even begin to count all the
schools involved,” said one
organizer.
"These games are the
culmination of a year’s training
for these children and young
adults,” said Mike Sanford,
Oregon Special Olympics
chapter president.
A teenager tentatively
approaches the VIP stand with
pen and program in hand. Five
minutes lates he runs back to
his friends, laughing and
waving his hands.
Jack Ramsay autographed
his program.
The Oregon Special
Olympics, sponsored in part by
the Kennedy Foundation,
receives most of its financial
support through contributions
and fund-raising events.
A teenage girl has won a
bronze medal in the frisbee
competition. Grinning, she will
show it to anyone who will look.
When she gets home, she says,
she will show it to "everyone."
By Brent Walth
CHINA BLUE RESTAURANT
Now serving LUNCH
Monday thru Friday 11-4
SOUP & SALADS
Salad served with your choice of Oil & Vinegar,
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1. Tossed Green Salad . 1.95
2. Chefs Salad . 12.30
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3. Soup and Salad . Si.40
Garden fresh vegetables served with a cup of
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4. Bowl of Soup . $1.50
Different soup made daily.
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COMBINATION
Make your own combination plate by
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B. Pork Chow Mein
C. Sweet & Sour Chicken Wings
1. Braised Bean Curd • $2.50
2. Beef Broccoli • $2.80
3. Sweet and Sour Pork • $.245
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5. Pineapple Sweet and Sour Chicken • $3.00
6. Three Shreds with Bean Sprouts • $2.65
Shredded Pork, Bamboo, Black Wood Ear
and Bean Sprouts
7. Fried Mushrooms • $2.10
8. Sweet and Sour Fish • $2.50
9. Curry Beef • $2.80
10. Special of the Day
_ ^