Special Olympics Get Gold Medal
at Huntington
It definitely wasn't play time for participating athletes at last Sunday's Long Island Special Olympics Spring Games North at Huntington High School. Competition was fierce in a wide variety of events with the top place-finishers earning a trip to the victory stand and a shiny medal draped around their neck.
The Spring Games drew about 500 athletes and more than 200 coaches, along with several thousand fans and support staff volunteers. A 45-minute opening ceremony set the tone for the fun day. The ceremony included the Blue Devil band playing Olympic themed-music as teams of athletes and coaches processed into Blue Devil Stadium and lit the symbolic torch.
State Senator Carl Marcellino, Town Council members Susan Berland and Mark Mayoka, County Legislator William Spencer, State Supreme Court Justice W. Gerard Asher and Huntington Superintendent James W. Polansky were among the dignitaries on hand for the opening ceremonies.
The athletes came to compete and they didn't hold anything back, pursuing coveted gold, silver and bronze medals with a vengeance. An Olympic village was erected by Huntington School District volunteers on adjacent athletic fields. Tents filled the landscape with folks of all ages staffing an extensive array of activity stations, including a volleyball game.
An army of volunteers turned out on the sun-drenched day to help make this one of the best Spring Games in memory. Retired Huntington School District physical education teacher Steve Davis served as the event's coordinator, with a large assist from Georgia D. McCarthy, district director of physical education, health and interscholastic athletics. Dozens of district teachers and more than 100 students assumed an assortment of jobs to keep operations running smoothly throughout the day.
Booster Club and PTA members were out in force, manning food, refreshment and activity stations to feed the hungry volunteers and athletes and keep them entertained throughout the day. The free lunches for the athletes and coaches were made possible through a donation by Clever Devices to the Booster Club.
The Huntington High School jazz band put on a well-received concert in the Olympic village from a large portable town stage that was brought to the site. The relatively balmy temperatures seemed to help attendance, which was noticeably larger than last year.
Mr. Davis presented Mr. Polansky with a handsome plaque in recognition of the district's efforts in making the Spring Games North an unbridled success these past two years. It was announced that the 2013 and 2014 Spring Games would be held at Commack High School.
"It was a beautiful day and the athletes really shined," Mrs. McCarthy said. "All of their practice and hard work paid off. It was so much fun seeing their enthusiasm and determination. Our volunteers were amazing and we cannot thank them enough."