Weather fails to deter Olympians More than 1,000 compete in Summer Games

ORONO – The sun wasn’t out this year at the annual Maine Summer Special Olympics Games, but the athletes were still shining.

More than 1,000 men, women, boys and girls participated in track and field events Friday and Saturday while hundreds of parents and friends looked on in admiration.

Bruce Little, coach of the Oxford Hills of South Paris team, said being excited would be an understatement for how the athletes felt while competing in the games.

Olympians from all over the state came to the University of Maine’s Beckett Track to participate in their favorite events.

Justin Beliveau, 17, of Lewiston was ecstatic about running the mile. He has been participating at the Special Olympics the last several years.

Justin, like many others, got very competitive while still having fun. He has been practicing with the Lewiston High School track team and is joining it next year.

Others Olympians don’t just concentrate on their own events. Lloyd Morneault, 16, of Oxford Hills said he likes to “help support people” and help them “gain confidence in themselves.”

All across the track there were Olympians cheering on teammates and friends from other teams.

Sharon Kramar, whose son competed for the Mount View of Thorndike team, said she applauds the camaraderie and likes seeing all the athletes getting together and having fun.

“[It’s] a wonderful environment,” she said.

It was Kramar’s second Summer Olympics and she said she definitely would come back. Many others, like Therese McLaughlin of Millinocket, are veteran fans of the games. McLaughlin said this year was her 10th time attending.

She described the Olympics as a very “praiseworthy event” and enjoys the running activities the most. For 10 years she has attended the Olympics to see her grandson Daniel Butler, 18, of Brewer compete, and she will be back next year.

Despite the rain, athletes were eager to compete in their events.

Beliveau said he came “to win the mile!” However, it didn’t appear Saturday that he and other athletes would get their chance.

A long period of rain covered much of the track and made for an uncomfortable and unsafe setting. Phil Geelhoed, president and CEO of Special Olympics Maine, said the puddles on the track and the cold temperatures were a concern.

“Our medical people advised us to try and hold off as a better forecast was coming,” he said.

Olympians waited in their dorms for a few hours in the morning, hoping and watching to see if the rain would stop. Officials re-examined the track around 11 a.m. and decided to continue with the events.

The morning track and field schedule was canceled due to the bad weather, but Olympians were able to continue with the afternoon events.

“Not just one specific age group lost their entire event,” Geelhoed said. “Some people lost an event or two, but hopefully having the afternoon will have everybody get something in.”

Many of the athletes didn’t seem too disappointed by the canceling of the morning schedule.

Geelhoed said he received comments from many participants who said they were ready to compete “no matter what happened” and then were excited when the stingy sun occasionally peaked through the clouds as competitors hit the track.

Over the weekend, athletes competed in the 50-, 100-, 200- and 400-meter dashes, the running and standing long jumps, the shot put and softball throw, the 4×100 relay, and the wheelchair events. Many participants proudly wore their medals after gaining a top-three finish.

Although the events were the main piece of the Olympics, participants also enjoyed Friday’s Parade of Athletes and Saturday’s Banquet of Champions and Victory Dance. The parade included law enforcement vehicles, go-karts, and vintage cars with each school marching.

After the parade, the opening ceremonies were held and the Flame of Hope was lighted as athletes recited the Special Olympics Oath: “Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”

The athletes’ enthusiasm and bravery to compete was very much in evidence during the events .

“They’re very excited, as I think you and I can see from right here,” Geelhoed said.