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Show Special Olympics lures volunteers who linger bv Ten Gomes It's beginning to be a familiar story once you start working in some capacity with the Special Olympics, chances are you will never get far away from it. Last week two officials from the Washington office of the Special Olympics Games were in town to check on the progress of the 1985 International Winter Special Olympics Olym-pics Games to be held here next March. "We're pleased with the progress, said Monty Castevens, deputy director of management and admin-stration. admin-stration. "There is a tremendous group of people here ready to become involved." Castevens began working with Special Olympics in college when he coached a basketball team. For four years after graduation while he taught school, he continued to work as a volunteer for the program. In 1976 he was named director of Special Olympics for the state of North Carolina. And in 1981 he , joined the national office in the : ' V . ' "' ' Illl'inrnmxiiiiM in n I 111 ililmnm mill mi r n c -mum ..... wri in illinium capacity of assistant director of sports. "I recognized very early on there was a great void in recreational opportunities for the mentally-retarded individual. In the early 70s programs were still in short supply which taught these people to recreate independently, like going bowling. "Now there is a better-defined sports program for them." Doug Hill, former All-American high jumper from the University of Florida, also began working with Special Olympians in college. He continued on a part-time volunteer basis while he became director of the Sunshine State Games in track and field. In his second year as director of competitive sports for the Special Olympics, Hill recently coordinated the East Coast soccer games for the Los Angeles Olympics Committee. "In the Winter Special Olympics we have seen a great progression in the professional level of the competition offered," said Hill. "At the first Games in Steamboat Springs (Colorado) in 1977 there were very few chapters which even offered winler sports. Some of those people had never been on the snow before. "In 1981 in Stowe they reached another level or competition where athletes all had been on the show at some time before. "For the Games here, we're going to show the world Special Olympians are competitors in the true sense of the word. We hope, with ski gear and goggles on, you won't be able to tell which contenders are Special Olympians on the slopes." In the future Hill says ski jumping and ice hockey may be added to the competition. This year events will include alpine and nordic skiing and figure and speed skating. "One of the big reasons the Park City Ski Area was chosen to host these Games was their proven ability to put on big races. We will be using their certified race officials to insure the quality of these events." Castevens added, "There are still tremendous numbers of people not being served by any program-people program-people who are not part of the public school system or even school-age population. "Our goal is reach all those peoDle who would benefit from learning the skills for independent recreation." Funds and volunteers still are needed to help coordinate the Utah Special Olympics Games to be held here Jan. 5-7 and the 1985 International Winter Special Olympics Olym-pics Games to.be )ield here March 26-30. Those interested can call the Special Olympics staff 649-1985. Monty Castevens (left) and Doug Hill of the Special Olympics Games national office. |