Special Olympic Games Empower Athletes

The opportunity to compete is doing wonders for Oklahomans, specifically athletes in the Special Olympics. For both the young and young at heart, the games began Thursday.

Thursday, April 8th 2010, 5:17 pm

By: News 9


By Melissa Maynarich, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The opportunity to compete is doing wonders for Oklahomans, specifically athletes in the Special Olympics. For both the young and young at heart, the games began Thursday.

Track and field events began with athletes competing in distance runs, dashes, shot put, wheelchair events, long jump and a softball throw.

Kaleb McBride was determined to win his race, but before he crossed the finish line, his mother said he was so eager to be able to race at all.

"Every 10 minutes, ‘Are we going to go? Is it time? Is it time? We need new shoes. We need new pants. Wash these. No, I can't wear those. Those don't fit.' Just you know, the joys of him wanting to be ready," said Kaleb's mom Gwen McBride.

The Special Olympics empowers athletes through sport. For many with developmental disabilities, the games are often the only place they have an opportunity to participate in their communities and develop a belief in themselves. Simon Phan's done just that.

"I should probably be able to win the 200 meter dash because I've been running around the neighborhood every single day," said Simon Phan, a fourth-grade athlete.

But it's not about finishing first.

"The Special Olympics oath is Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt. And that's what Special Olympics is all about," said Special Olympic Games Director Elaine Turner.

Competitors in each track and field event range in age from 8 to 80. Kaleb McBride, 12, doesn't have a care in the world about the age of his competition. The only thing he's concerned with is getting a chance to race.

"For me as a mom, I can't put a price on it. It's just. It means everything to me that he's excited to be out here," said McBride,

Over 650 athletes participated in Thursday's games with some qualifying for the summer games in Stillwater.

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