Students and athletes came together under a blazing torch for the opening ceremonies of the 12th annual Winter Special Olympics, held at the Dartmouth Skiway on Saturday. The event’s 113 athletes competed in showshoeing events as well as beginner, intermediate and advanced alpine skiing and snowboarding races.
The scheduled cross-country skiing races were canceled due to a snow shortage on the Occom Pond route, affecting eight athletes, games director Jim Beattie ’76 said.
Nearly 150 Dartmouth students volunteered at the event. Six Greek organizations, nine sports teams and other individuals comprised the Dartmouth volunteer force, volunteer coordinator Katie Robbins ’85 said. High school sports teams, volunteer groups and adults also volunteer at the games each year.
Some student groups assist in certain capacities. The women’s crew and softball teams help each year at the alpine events, while the football team assists with equipment. In recent years, the women’s rugby team has volunteered at the snowshoe event awards stand. Alpha Delta fraternity members help with both parking and equipment.
“It is a tremendous gathering of older teens and adults from so many parts of our community,” Robbins said.
The Winter Special Olympics is unique because of the extent of the community’s involvement, Beattie said. The enthusiasm of the volunteers and participants reflects the program’s success.
“They come out in force,” he said. “That energy they have cheering is all over the place.”
Athletes, along with their coaches, teammates, family and friends, come in from surrounding areas to compete in the events, which serve as a regional qualifier for the State Championships, Robbins said.
While last year’s event drew only 85 athletes due to scheduling complications, the games have historically gathered over 100 participants, Beattie said.
Founded by Pete Bleyler ’61 in 2003, the Upper Valley competition is entirely volunteer-run. Although the purpose of the games is not to raise money, Beattie said, the program raised $500 from a raffle hosted by various local businesses, to be put toward event-related expenses.
This year, two Tucker Foundation interns acted as Dartmouth’s liaisons and organized volunteers. An additional two undergraduates organize and run the opening ceremonies and award stands during the event.
Sara Peterson ’14, opening ceremonies and award ceremonies co-chair, said the most nerve-racking part of her job is the cold weather. Low temperatures can affect the generator that powers the microphones and torch, but they can also impact volunteers’ and athletes’ morale.
“After three hours in the cold, it’s really hard to keep your energy up,” Peterson said. “It’s hard to do the fine-tuned things like helping athletes take off their snow shoes when your fingers are stiff.”
Peterson, who has volunteered with the Special Olympics for the past three years, said that despite the work and the cold, attending the events and cheering on the athletes never fails to gratify her.
Although her job consists mainly of handling logistics and planning, Peterson receives high-fives and hugs throughout the day, she said.
Special Olympics chair James Jung ’14, one of the two Tucker interns involved in recruiting volunteers, said he began volunteering for the Special Olympics in high school and has continued his work for the organization.
Jung said he participates in weekly programs to develop bonds with the same athletes and volunteers who participate in the Winter Special Olympics.
“I’ve become friends with them,” he said. “It’s a great feeling when you make their day.”
