Kissing the Blarney Stone or catching a leprechaun may be on the minds of a handful of athletes participating in the Special Olympics West Virginia Summer Games June 6-8 at West Virginia University.
That’s because these Special Olympians will be competing in the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games June 21-29 in Dublin, Ireland. Some 7,000 athletes from more than 160 countries will be participating in the international competition. This marks the first time the World Games are being staged outside the United States.
“They’re all extremely excited,”said Dave Bromiley, who as Special Olympics West Virginia sports and training director will accompany the athletes to the Emerald Isle.”They had to fill out biographical information, and everyone kept going on about how much of an honor it is to represent not just West Virginia, but the United States at the world games.”
The athletes, Bromiley said, will fly out of either Pittsburgh or Charleston June 15 for Orlando, Fla., where they will enjoy a big sendoff at Walt Disney World before departing June 16 for Belfast, Northern Ireland. The delegation will spend a few days sightseeing before arriving in Dublin for the competition.
Started in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Special Olympics is a sports competition for people with mental disabilities. With more than a million athletes and 500,000 volunteers, it is the largest athletic program for people who are mentally handicapped.
The World Games are held every four years. West Virginia has fielded contestants for the international competition since its inception in 1968. This year’s seven West Virginia athletes will represent the state in bowling and inline skating.
The athletes were nominated by their coaches, then selected by a Special Olympics West Virginia committee based on their performances in state competitions, Bromiley said.
Marsha Hall, a bowler from Moundsville, will be among the West Virginia athletes traveling to Ireland.
Hall, 30, won gold, silver and bronze medals in the event at the Special Olympics West Virginia Fall Games in November in Parkersburg. She carries a 117 average and has been known on occasion to roll three strikes in a row. Replicas of an American flag and a bald eagle and the letters USA emblazon the 12-pound ball she uses.
“I can’t wait,”she said of going to the World Summer Games.”I look forward to going there to compete, tour the country and meet new people. I’ve been counting down the days.”
A 13 -year Special Olympian, Hall also competes in track and field, softball, basketball and swimming. She won gold medals in the running long jump and 100-meter run and a silver medal in the 200-meter run at a regional competition in May. She was also a finalist for the J. Fred Early Sportsmanship Award, and the Marshall County Commission recently presented her with a plaque in recognition of her accomplishments.
She lives with her mother, Susan Hall, the Marshall County Special Olympics bowling coach. Her hobbies include roller skating and playing with her dog, Casey.
Hall will compete in track and field at the West Virginia Summer Games at WVU .
This will be the second trip outside the continental United States for Felicia Cox. The 18-year-old from Clarksburg traveled to Alaska two years ago for the Special Olympics World Winter Games.
Just the same, Cox is as excited about going to Ireland as any first-time traveler.
“I love to travel,”she said.”I’m anxious to see the sights. It’s a good feeling. It’s not that I’m only representing the state. I’m also representing my family, friends and Harrison County.”
Cox will be competing in roller skating, including the 500-meter and 1,000-meter races and four-person relay. Her medals for skating include two gold, one silver and one bronze, which she won at last year’s Special Olympics West Virginia Fall Games. She can complete one 100-meter lap in 15.2 seconds.
She has been involved in Special Olympics for eight to 10 years, winning 50 to 60 medals in skating, swimming and cross-country skiing.
She lives with her parents, Emmett and Alice White, and works at Burger King.
Cox will compete in bocce at the West Virginia Summer Games.
Other West Virginia Special Olympians competing in the World Summer Games are Stephen Boley, Brooke County, bowling; Lesly Schwertfeger, Brooke County, bowling; Howard Wilson, Monongalia County, bowling; and Breanna and Deanna Summerfield, Randolph County, roller skating.