Hundreds compete at Special Olympics

BY MICHAEL J. RUDOLF

The competition at the annual Area P Special Olympics in Tunkhannock on Wednesday was as intense as ever. The athletes want to show off how fast or how strong they are, but more than that, they want to enjoy themselves.

“I come because it’s fun. We run fast,” said Austin Vosburg, 15, a Tunkhannock Area High School freshman.

“I like to run in the races,” said Brandon Howell, an 18-year-old Tunkhannock Area junior. He added that he also competes in the softball throw.

“I come to play games and have fun with my friends,” he said.

About 400 athletes participated in this year’s event, coming from nine schools and two group homes in Northeast Pennsylvania.

The event was held for ages 8 and older from Lackawanna, Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike and Wyoming counties

Mary Lou O’Hara, who manages the Special Olympics program for the region, said for the athletes, being out on the track with their family and friends cheering for them has value for them far beyond what most people can grasp.

“This builds up all their self-esteem, and they’re just like any other child. This makes their day,” she said.

The event at Tunkhannock Area is one of the longest-running Special Olympics activities, O’Hara said, having been held for more than 20 years.

She noted that because of the number of students who want to take part in Special Olympics, two more events are now on the calendar within the next month, at North Pocono and Delaware Valley high schools. Between the three events, more than 1,600 athletes participate.

“There were so many, we had to break them up,” O’Hara said.

While fun is the main part of the day, O’Hara noted that athletes who choose to can have their times or distances measured and recorded, so they can qualify for the state competition at Penn State in June.

“This is actually getting some athletes ready to go to Penn State this summer,” she said.

Teachers who work with many of these students on a daily basis said it is a valuable part of their education.

Kaaron Swanson, a special education teacher at Tunkhannock Area, said Special Olympics makes students feel included.

“It gives them a chance to participate like they see their peers participate,” she said.

And when they complete a race, regardless of where they finish, they feel like champions.

“There is a lot of pride and excitement,” Swanson said.

The day doesn’t have just athletic competitions. There are many other fun activities, such as face painting, bean bag toss, badminton, volleyball and other games. Students from the Tunkhannock Area student councils run these events and help with the overall program.

Matt Dymond, 14, a middle school student council member, said he understands the importance of making Special Olympics possible.

“It’s giving a day for the kids to have fun,” “Dymond said.