Weather holds up for Mt. Prospect Special Olympics events
More than 600 Special Olympics athletes had their day in the sun Sunday.
But early that morning, the outlook appeared bleak for the Special Olympics Illinois Area 18 Spring Games, held at Prospect High School in Mount Prospect. Driving to the event, Area 18 Director Dan Conley thought it would probably be canceled due to weather.
Fortunately, the rain stopped and the bright sunshine heralded a successful event.
"It was an extremely smooth event, and boy did Mother Nature work in our favor," Conley said.
The 2010 Area 18 Spring Games featured 24 events, including the softball throw, the tennis ball throw, the standing long jump, the running long jump, 800-meter and 1500-meter running and walking events, a 3K walk and various wheelchair races.
Participants ranged from 8 years old to more than 30 years old.
"It provides the same experience any other athlete would get that trains to compete in a track and field event," Conley said.
It was also a positive experience for the approximately 600 volunteers.
"The majority of our volunteers were high school students, and they were able to see and interact with people with disabilities, doing very much probably the same thing they may be doing in their gym class. And they got to kind of bond with them and interact with them and see that really they are not so different," Conley said.
Conley said there was an even split between the under-30 and the over-30 athletes. Many of the athletes come from area group homes.
Area 18 serves the Northwest Suburban Cook County area. It consists of 16 communities, including Arlington Heights, Barrington Hills, Bartlett, Buffalo Grove, Elk Grove Village, Hanover Park, Rolling Meadows, Palatine and Schaumburg.
There are more than 1,100 athletes involved in year-round training and competition in 17 sports.
Justin Sienkiewicz, communications and grants coordinator with the Northwest Special Recreation Association (NWSRA), which participates in Area 18 events, said more than 1,000 volunteers and spectators attended Sunday. He said the gold medalists will compete in the state championships, held June 11-13 at Illinois State University in Normal.
Those athletes will include 23-year-old Eric Zgoda, who received a gold medal in the softball throw.
His mother, Ann Zgoda, said Eric suffered brain damage as a result of epilepsy. He has been participating in Area 18 events since 1999.
Three years ago, Eric graduated from Palatine High School. He now attends the Countryside Association for People with Disabilities.
Ann Zgoda said Eric was always athletically inclined, but regular park district programs could not accommodate his needs. She eventually received a suggestion that led her to NWSRA.
"They somehow always find people to work for them and people to volunteer for them that have a real positive happy outlook," she said.
Eric enjoys bowling, volleyball and basketball.
Eric has already advanced to the games in Normal twice in the 50-meter run. This time it will be for the softball throw.
"Special Olympics offers them an opportunity to feel like they can compete and succeed," said Ann Zgoda, who lives in Arlington Heights. "One of the fun things that keeps (volunteers coming) back is the gorgeous warm feeling you get from being surrounded by athletes and volunteers."