More than 500 hundred participants, spectators, and volunteers were at the 25th Special Olympics.

To start this day full of fun and games, each school presented themselves in hopes of winning the Spirit Award in a parade around the track. The award went to East Aiken Elementary School. Everyone in the stands could feel the smiles radiating off of the children as they waved and held hands with their buddies, leaping and scooting down the track. Buddies held children on their shoulders, ran around after them, and panted from being out of breath.

To finally signal the beginning of the

events, a young man barreled down Midland Valley’s track carrying a lit torch. The Star Spangled Banner was sung, Midland Valley High’s principle spoke, and so it began!

With sporting events such as the softball throw, the 100 meter run and walk, and the 200 meter dash, the Special Olympic participants were kept busy. The Very Special Arts Festival, sponsored by The Aiken Women’s Club, had stations such as funny hats, mask making, sand bottling, crazy creature making, and, of course, the most popular station -face painting.

A volunteer, junior Ashley Ellefson, thoroughly enjoyed herself. Her buddy was 11 year old Serena, who was impaired on her right side. “It was a lot of fun,” Ashley said. She and sophomore Jessica Cody both agreed that “it’s a great experience.” Jessica thinks the Special Olympics is something that really benefits the children. “It makes them more open to people.” The Special Olympics gives children who are looked down upon by people who are not handicapped a chance to see that there are a lot of people like them, and their own age as well. Senior Rachel Ellefson believes that participating in this event “encourages them.” “It teaches them creativity skills,” she says. Senior Page Barnes loved the Special Olympics. “It helps them interact and gain social skills. It even helps them by using the skills they already have.”

Even though this year’s Special Olympics was my third time going, I still felt as though I’d been through a new experience. The Special Olympics is something that could really change a person’s perspective of handicapped children. They are people, they are kids, and they do have the potential to participate in sports, as obviously shown in The Special Olympics. The kids who participate in this event are truly  some of the best kids ever.