Leonardtown, MD — Hundreds of special athletes participated Friday, April 24 in the 45th Annual Special Olympics St. Mary’s County Spring Games at Leonardtown High School. The event always draws a huge support from the business community, the Sheriff’s Department, government agencies, Patuxent River Naval Air Station, parents and friends of the participants, and other community members.
After the opening ceremony that included the lighting of the Olympic torch, the games began and so did the smiles of the athletes for the joy of competing. The motto for the event is “Let me win. If I cannot win let me be brave in the attempt.”
Special Olympics, according to the Maryland website, provides “year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for all children and adults with developmental disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.”
The goal is: “To help bring all persons with developmental disabilities into the larger society under conditions whereby they are accepted, respected and given the chance to become useful and productive citizens.”
Special Olympics is “Training for Life.” The website says, “For our athletes, the training never stops and the benefits last a lifetime. A 1995 Yale University study proved it: Special Olympics athletes do better at school, at work and at home than their peers not involved in our year-round sports program. We like to call it “Training for Life” – providing persons with developmental disabilities the opportunity to become physically fit, develop cooperation and social skills, and increase their self-esteem, all while competing in an Olympic-type sports program. Sports participation for our athletes is truly “Training for Life,” and Special Olympics Maryland gives everyone a chance to keep that spirit alive. To find out how you can get involved with Special Olympics St. Mary’s County, please call 301-373-3469.
Please enjoy the Photo Gallery by The Bay Net Photojournalist Ron Bailey.
