GC&SU teams with Special Olympics
Just in time for the beautiful weather, the Spring Special Olympic Games will be held April 6 at the Baldwin County High School football field with games starting at 9:30 a.m. and will last until 12 p.m.
The Special Olympics is an international organization dedicated to empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities to become physically fit, productive and respected members of society through sports training and competition. Special Olympics offer children and adults with intellectual disabilities year-round training and competition in summer and winter Olympic sports.
The organization was founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver to provide people with intellectual disabilities continuing opportunities to realize their potential, develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, and experience joy and friendship and currently served almost 1.4 million persons with intellectual disabilities in more than 200 programs in more than 150 countries, Georgia College & State University is doing its part to lend a hand for the occasion with the GIVE Center, other members of the community and Shannon New, the director of the Baldwin Special Olympics organization.
“I got involved with Special Olympics when I was at GC&SU,” said New. “I went and volunteered for a Special Olympics event and loved it. And as a part of my job, I started a Special Olympics program and have been doing it about 26 years”.
There are plenty of reasons why college students should take the time to volunteer for the Special Olympic events, according to New. One reason, said New, is to “help people with disabilities and let them [college students] see that they [the athletes] can be equal just like anybody else and see how they can accomplish and achieve just like regular students.”
Volunteer work for the event includes coordinating events such as the softball throw, standing long jump and awards. Volunteers are also needed to time the running events, be “huggers” at the finish lines, help get athletes to their events and to be an encouraging and supporting audience for the athletes.
“Lots of people just come out and cheer them on,” New said. “That’s always a lot of fun.”
“I’d like to invite as many college students as possible. I think they’ll really like it. I think they’ll have a good time. Most people love it.”
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Apr 1 2005. Filed under Other.
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