PRACTICE PAYS OFF FOR SPECIAL OLYMPIANS

Athletes stood unwavering against Saturday's blustery winds, many showing a strength as mighty as the words of the oath they repeated prior to beginning their competitions:

"Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt."

More than 340 athletes competed at the Southeast Missouri Area Special Olympics track and field competition before a crowd of some 300 family members and volunteers at Cape Girardeau Central High School.

Special Olympics events are held at the local, state and national levels to provide mentally or developmentally disabled people of all ages an opportunity to compete in athletic events. Participants often practice year-round to prepare for running, jumping and throwing competitions in one or more of the 13 local Olympic events.

Participants compete in athletic heats based upon age, gender and training scores. Much like the regular Olympic games, athletes can consider themselves winners by virtue of the fact they participated. However, unlike in the other Olympics, every Special Olympics participant goes home with a medal or ribbon.

Some of the competitors can't speak and could not recite the special oath, and it was for them that Ryan Ewing of Cape Girardeau spoke the words.

"We help each other out," said Ewing, who has been trained as a Special Olympics Global Messenger. The Global Messenger program trains Special Olympics athletes who have strong speaking skills to promote the games to local communities, businesses and civic organizations.

Ewing, who recently completed the training, will serve as master of ceremonies at the state competition at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., in mid-May.

"They talk for the other kids who really can't express themselves," said Anna Berkbuegler, a Madison County coach who works with the Global Messenger program. "Their job is to help with presentations and spread the message of what Special Olympics is about."

Although Ewing was proud of his speaking skills, he was just as pleased with his abilities in the standing long jump and softball toss, two of the three events he competed in over the weekend.

Each time, as he awaited his turn to compete, Ewing struck up conversations with whomever stood closest to him. For him, making new friends is probably the prime benefit of participating in the Special Olympics.

"The best part of it is being with people," Ewing said. "I think of it like church. There are a lot of people out here with special needs and this fills them."