A Special Kind of Athlete Christine Marsh Staff Writer me win but if I cannot L LET win let me be brave in inthe inthe inthe the attempt Special Special Olympics Oath This special oath was patterned patterned patterned pat pat- after the words and personal philosophy of Baron Pierre de a French scholar De is sometimes called the Father of the modern Olympic Games In the United States people have an ongoing love affair with competitive sports It is certainly not surprising that handicapped people want to join in and not only as spec spec- But until the summer of 1968 there had been very little concern for the physical well-being well of the mentally retarded Although many agreed that in order for the normal child to be strong limber agile and to live Jive a full rich life he needed to be physically fit this was not yet considered a need for the mentally retarded In 1968 1000 mentally retarded children from allover all allover allover over the country gathered to in ath- ath participate a two-day two s. s letic competition This event held at Soldier Field in Chicago was the first time the mentally handicapped were considered capable of competing competing competing ing in athletic contests Since than more than 2 million mentally retarded persons persons persons per per- sons have participated in stimulating athletic contests at all levels local levels local state national national na na- national na- na and international It has been proven that persons with limited ability can participate participate participate par par- in some sport thus improving their strength and mobility but most importantly important important- ly their self esteem The Joseph P P. Kennedy Jr Foundation with the American Alliance for Health Physical Education and Recreation began a physical fitness program for mentally retarded youngsters This foundation had come to i the conclusion that mind and body work closely together An improvement in body functioning would be helpful to the mind Many experts expects opposed these children being subjected to athletic competitions They claimed the mentally retarded were emotion emotionally lIy vulnerable erable to disappointment and would not be able to handle the frustration of losing The scientists found that itcan it itcan itcan can be upsetting for anyone to lose in an athletic competition competition competition tion but it seemed less frustrating for these youngsters than for their normal brothers and sisters The loss of the race would fade into insignificance beside the fact that they had performed performed performed per per- formed well in front of a cheering crowd Over the years the enthusiasm enthusiasm enthusiasm en en- has grown immen immen- sely There has been a steady increase of participants as well as volunteers Many corporations corporations corporations corpora corpora- have contributed time and money to sponsor these events Companies such as Citicorp the Miller Brewing Co as well as groups such as the National Association of Retarded Citizens Jaycees the Fellowship Fellowship Fellowship Fellow Fellow- ship of Christian Athletes and the Rotary Club are arc just afew afew a afew few organizations who support support support sup sup- port the Special Olympics in inmany inmany inmany many Communities