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Special Olympics has record-setting year

‘Today is your day’

OBSERVER Photo by Mary Heyl This year, 430 athletes participated in the Northern Chautauqua County Special Olympics at SUNY Fredonia on Wednesday.

It was a record-setting year for the annual Northern Chautauqua County Special Olympics, which took place on Wednesday at SUNY Fredonia. Now in its 31st year, the event was attended by 430 athletes and over 100 teachers, volunteers and supporters who packed Steele Hall’s gymnasium for a full day of competition, food and fun.

At 9:30 a.m., the Olympics kicked off with a parade around the perimeter of the gymnasium. Students from BOCES LoGuidice Center, Brocton, Cassadaga Valley, Dunkirk, Fredonia, Gowanda, North Collins, Pine Valley and Silver Creek carried banners and waved to the many supporters who cheered them on. Adult athletes from Aspire and The Resource Center also marched in the parade and competed in the Olympic games.

Volunteer Doug Mahany emceed the opening ceremony and thanked all of the athletes and volunteers for being part of the event. Kayle Dean, a volunteer from BOCES Maple Academy, sang the National Anthem, which was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, led by Dunkirk High School students.

This year, Dunkirk Mayor Wilfred Rosas was invited to provide the opening remarks for the day’s events. “I would like to commend the organizers, the sponsors and of course, all of the volunteers who put in the time, work and the effort to make this event happen here in our community,” said Rosas.

“I think it’s a very special event and the city of Dunkirk certainly supports it. On behalf of our city of Dunkirk Common Council members and all of our city residents, we support this wholeheartedly.”

OBSERVER Photo by Mary Heyl The 31st Annual Northern Chautauqua County Special Olympics kicked off with a parade and the New York Law Enforcement Torch Run, in memory of Corrections Officer Scott Kowalski.

Rosas’ remarks were interrupted by the fire alarm, which was set off when the New York Law Enforcement Torch Runners entered the gymnasium with the blazing torch. After a brief, but orderly evacuation, the ceremony resumed inside the gym and Rosas continued. “To the athletes, I just have a simple message,” he said. “Never give up, always try your best and, most importantly, have fun! Today is your day.”

Following Rosas’ remarks, Mahany welcomed members of the torch run, in memory of Corrections Officer Scott Kowalski. Earlier that morning, the Dunkirk athletes ran from Dunkirk High School to Steele Hall and completed a lap around the gymnasium in support of the Special Olympics.

Bialaszewski was thrilled with the turn-out, especially the participation of more school districts. Last year’s event included a class of students from Gowanda Central School, which was the first district outside of Chautauqua County to participate in the event. This year, four classes from Gowanda competed, and students from North Collins Central School participated for the first time.

For the past 31 years, Bialaszewski has organized the northern Chautauqua County event, although her involvement with Special Olympics began many years before that. “I started in 1980 as a teacher and a coach at the BOCES Hewes Center in Ashville,” she told the OBSERVER. “We used to go to Jamestown for the Olympics and it just got to be too big, too much travel for a lot of people, so I started doing it up here in 1989.”

According to Bialaszewski, this has been the biggest year so far. She is pleased that adults returned to compete in the event, as many had competed as children and were eager to participate in the Olympics again. “I love looking out to the crowd and seeing the people support the kids,” she said, reflecting on her favorite part of the event. “I love the parade and seeing everyone come through, high-fiving people that I haven’t seen in awhile. That’s the fun part!”

Barbara Haverty, coach for the Chautauqua Lakers, which includes students from Dunkirk and Fredonia, was excited to be a part of the event once again. “The self confidence that it gives the athletes is just phenomenal,” she said.

Dan Kuberka, director of programs for Special Olympics New York – Western Region, explained that northern Chautauqua County is part of the Western Region, which includes six counties: Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, Niagara and Orleans. The Western Region has more than 3,900 athletes and partners who participate in over 150 competitions throughout the region each year. According to Kuberka, eight students from the Dunkirk/Fredonia area will be competing in the state games in Duchess County on June 14.

Following the opening ceremony, the athletes competed in a variety events in the gymnasium, Dod’s Grove and the tennis courts. Events were organized by gender and age group and included 50, 100 and 200-meter relays, softball throws, running long jump, standing long jump, tennis ball throws and javelin throws.

“Students have been practicing and training during their gym times at school,” Bialaszewski explained. “They look forward to it so much, and that’s why we enjoy doing it.”

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