Tomorrow, March 31, is a special day for an exceptional group of young people. Decatur County will hold its annual Special Olympics Event. The busses carrying the Olympians will leave the Boat Basin area at 8:30 a.m. and head down Shotwell Street to Bainbridge High School where the competitions will take place.
We are asking everyone to come out and line Shotwell Street to cheer these athletes on as they pass by heading to this exciting event. Please be there to display your support and encouragement for our athletes as they prepare for competition.
Decatur County Special Olympics Special Olympics motto:
“Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”
In the fall of 2009 a group of community leaders felt that Decatur County needed an organized Special Olympics for youth and adults. These leaders strongly believed the time had come to bring this worthy organization back to Decatur County to fill a void in our special needs population after an approximate 25-year absence.
Individuals were appointed and with in-depth training this newly formed Leadership Committee was able to get Special Olympics certified in the state of Georgia. Within three months Decatur County Special Olympics was up and running!
A track and field event for all Decatur County school system special needs students was first held at Bainbridge High School in the spring of 2010. The event was extremely successful with approximately 75 participants and 90 volunteers. The Decatur County school system truly supported this endeavor and continues to do so. Seminole, Early, and Grady County school systems are now invited to participate as well.
Since that first meet, Decatur County Special Olympics has grown! A Young Athletes program for special needs participants under 8 years old is currently in the early stage of implementation. Each year there is the track and field event, an adult bowling event, a youth bowling event, and a Snowflake Ball.
Special needs adults eagerly look forward to dressing up for their Snowflake Ball in January. This is a prom held in the Kirbo Center complete with a promenade, refreshments provided by a local civic club, a photographer, and a DJ for dancing. In addition, the Leadership Committee envisions taking the competitive events to the regional and state levels in the future.
The annual budget runs about $7,000 annually which requires fundraising and donations, the only means of funding.
A base pool of approximately 120 volunteers is maintained, most of whom are needed at the track and field event. All volunteers must pass a background check. However, the main requirement for volunteers is patience and the ability to help participants have a good time in whatever accomplishments they attempt.
Decatur County Special Olympics requires three factors necessary for continued success and growth:
• a strong, visionary leadership committee
• community support for financial contributions
• enthusiastic, trained volunteers
Decatur County Special Olympics encourages all interested persons to consider the three factors above. Join one of the best volunteer groups in our area where you not only make a difference in the lives of others, but you come away feeling better for having done so.
