STAFFORD - Approximately 600 athletes from across the state of Virginia participated in a two-day basketball tournament that began with opening ceremonies at Colonial Forge High School on March 14.
The Special Olympics Virginia 2008 Basketball Championships included 78 games played at Colonial Forge, North Stafford, Mountain View and Brooke Point high schools, and Stafford, H.H. Poole, Rodney Thompson and T. Benton Gayle middle schools.
So, why is the event held in Stafford-
"The area has embraced it so much," answered Holly Claytor, Special Olympics public relations director. Local business GEICO, coordinates the event, she added, and is a major financial supporter.
Tim Doyle, area coordinator for the program covering Stafford, Spotsylvania, Caroline, King George counties and the city of Fredericksburg, considers "coaching the most important" thing he does. His son, Matthew Doyle is an athlete in the games.
"They bring a whole lot more to us than we to them," Tim Doyle said of the athletes.
Brian Alden, a coach for Matthew's team, also coaches his own son, Corey Alden, and said he loves his role as a coach.
"Sometimes I think we have more fun than the athletes do," Brian Alden said.
Matthew, Corey, and their buddies Carson Legitt and Matthew McCallum participate in not only basketball but bowling, soccer, and other Special Olympics sports. They are also members of the Special Star Force members of the Stafford County Sheriff's Office, a program started last October.
Law enforcement agencies around the globe are actively involved in fundraising for Special Olympics.
Many of these youths are quite "infatuated" with the idea being law enforcement officers, Tim Doyle said. The program allows them to fulfill that dream.
"It allows them to assimilate into our world and more importantly," said Stafford County Sheriff Charles Jett, "it allows our staff to assimilate into theirs."
Law enforcement has long been involved with the Special Olympics.
In 1981, Wichita, Kan. police chief Richard LaMunyon started the Law Enforcement Torch Run as a means to raise funds and awareness of the Special Olympics. The event is now an international one.
The Star Cadet Program allows these deputies to interact with the athletes on a more personal basis.
One of Stafford's own, Rebecca Mayer, a graduate of Stafford High School and an employee of Rappahannock Goodwill Industries, looked forward to the Special Olympics events that weekend.
How did she feel about the weekend's events-
"Really good," she replied, with a beaming smile.
A ceremonial torch was litat 8:30 p.m. on Friday to kick off the Special Olympics, and the two-day event officially began.
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