A Day of Olympic Proportions

Patrick Lynch
Contributor

For some of Canandaigua, Friday, May 22 marked a day just like any other, but for a number of people-including the vast majority of the student body- this day marked a day unlike any other they will experience all year. This day was the day of the Special Olympics.

The Wayne-Finger Lakes Spring Games of the Special Olympics kicked off to rows of cheering volunteers the morning of the 22nd as participants from 22 member school districts of the Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES pulled into the Academy parking lot.

Greeted by CA mascot Buddy the Boxing Brave, Olympians from all over the Wayne and Finger Lakes counties streamed into Canandaigua Academy athletic fields to participate in this circus of fun, games, and friendship.

“I really enjoyed being able to see and meet a lot of the athletes”, says Academy junior and Special Olympics volunteer Jeffery Thomas. “It was refreshing to see people who were more interested in simply participating and having fun than necessarily just winning”, Thomas adds.

After the initial greeting over 200 hundred student-athletes paraded around the track in an opening ceremony filled with anxiety and excitement for each and every participant. Finishing with a running of the Olympic torch around the track, each Olympian headed off to find his or her events.

From shot put to softball throw, 50 meter to the 1500 meter run, each participated in a variety of Olympic Games. Each competition-no matter how close- kept to the oath of the Special Olympics-“Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”

Even without events, Olympians and spectators alike were surrounded by fun-filled opportunities. From the Olympic Village to the cooks grilling at the concession stand, the Special Olympics played host to a day of overall fun and relaxation. That doesn’t mean there wasn’t any friendly competition, however.

Carefully keeping track of times and distances, Special Olympics volunteers were able to hand out their fair share of awards to Olympians as well. With gold, silver, and bronze medals awarded for first, second, and third place, as well as ribbons for any place after those, Olympians had a strong motivation to do their best in each and every event.

In addition to the medals the athletes also had the support of the Canandaigua Academy student body to will them to the finish line. Students lined the fences and packed the bleachers to cheer and watch as the day’s events unfolded. Heat after heat of runners ran to the finish line amidst a supporting and enthusiastic crowd.

Even though it lasted a mere five hours the Spring Games of the Special Olympics at Canandaigua Academy made for a special experience for all of those involved. Through a true embrace of the meanings of competition, sportsmanship, and fun these Olympic Games and their athletes produced a successful Special Olympics yet again at Canandaigua Academy.