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sports
Special
Olympics end on high note
By Porcher Lowe
Summer On-line Forty-Niner
There were many
cheerful faces and bright smiles at the closing for the Special
Olympics Southern California summer games held at Cal State
Long Beach last weekend.
Garren Horton, from Sports News Tonight, hosted this year’s
closing ceremony. “We are tremendously grateful to our friends
and supporters out here in Long Beach,” said Horton. “The
Beach made it happen.”
During the culmination of the games, awards were given to
athletes and volunteers who displayed the most outstanding
talent and inspiration during the event.
Janet Shulman, President and CEO of the Special Olympics of
Southern California presented this year’s Fran Greenspan Outstanding
Athlete award.
Roman Melendez from won for outstanding male Olympian and
Jannie Tyler won for outstanding female. Both athletes’ were
too shy to comment on their awards.
The Most Inspirational Athlete Award went to two winners,
Buddy Gowdi and Jeffry Morris.
“I have a room full of gold silver and bronze [metals] but
I don’t know how many,” boasted Morris.
This weekend he won gold metals in four aquatic competitions,
the butterfly, freestyle, individually medley and relay. Morris,
18, has been a Special Olympics athlete since he was 9 years
old.
“Jeffrey encourages and inspires other athletes,” said Rafer
Johnson, the 1960 gold-metal winner who was key in bringing
the Special Olympics to California.
Special Olympics volunteer, Jennie Jackson won this year’s
John West Memorial Outstanding Volunteer Award. Jackson was
praised for her year-round work, each game she is responsible
for processing and updating each athletes medical report-over
4,000 a year.
Athletes also celebrated their victories with a dance during
the closing ceremonies.
Horton was especially impressed by the spirit and enthusiasm,
which the athletes displayed over the course of the weekend.
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