BRAILLE OLYMPICS GIVE ATHLETES CHANCE TO SCALE NEW HEIGHTS.Byline: Dennis McCarthy Dennis McCarthy may refer to:
It was the kid's first Braille Institute-Optimist Club Olympic Games Olympic games, premier athletic meeting of ancient Greece, and, in modern times, series of international sports contests. The Olympics of Ancient Greece Although records cannot verify games earlier than 776 B.C. , and he was afraid he'd look silly, he told his dad - afraid that he'd get to the top of the wall on the obstacle course obstacle course n. 1. A training course filled with obstacles, such as ditches and walls, that must be negotiated speedily by troops undergoing training or participants in an obstacle race. 2. and freeze, not know which way to fall into the darkness. ``There'll be someone there to help you,'' James Jackson James Jackson may refer to:
``You won't look silly, son, I promise,'' the Woodland Hills father said, but he could tell by the look on his son's face that he still wasn't convinced. It was going to be tough for the kid to find the confidence to compete in the obstacle course competition, James knew - even tougher than Nick summoning up the courage to run as fast as he could in the 50-yard dash. Nick is 10 now, and this weekend he'll compete in his fifth straight Braille Institute-Optimist Olympic Games. But his father still remembers how tough it was for the little boy to muster up to gather up; to succeed in obtaining; to obtain with some effort or difficulty. See also: Muster the courage to compete - and how important it was to his self-confidence. James had tried to imagine in his own mind what it must be like, running as fast as you could with your eyes shut tight - running into total darkness and not knowing what lay ahead, afraid you'd slam into something and injure To interfere with the legally protected interest of another or to inflict harm on someone, for which an action may be brought. To damage or impair. The term injure is comprehensive and can apply to an injury to a person or property. Cross-references Tort Law. yourself. Of course the kid was scared, James thought. He would be scared, too. But they had worked through it, James and Chana, Nick's mom. They had convinced their son that out on the running track Nick could be free as a bird and run as fast as his legs could carry him. There were no poles, no curbs, no cars or obstacles of any kind out on the track to hit. Only a piece of tape that would gently touch his chest if he won. And, he did. He won. The wall waiting for him out on the obstacle course in the next event was tougher. The wall, in so many ways, symbolized the life of every one of those courageous kids competing in the Braille Olympics. No one knew that better than the mothers and fathers cheering wildly on the sidelines On the sidelines An investor who decides not to invest due to market uncertainty. on the sidelines Of or relating to investors who, having assessed the market, have decided to avoid committing their funds. , often through tears. ``Every day, there is a wall out there for these kids, especially the younger ones like Nick,'' Chana said. ``They're just beginning to feel their way through life without the benefit of sight. ``Nick is a very cautious person. He worries about doing the wrong thing, and how he'll look. But he's beginning to understand how good it feels to accomplish something you've been afraid of. ``The more hurdles he clears, the more challenges he looks forward to,'' Chana said. The challenge that day was the wall out on the obstacle course - the wall Nicholas Jackson Nicholas Jackson may refer to:
``Remember learning how to ride your bike, Nick?'' James asked, trying to build up his son's confidence. ``You didn't think you could do it, but you did. ``And swimming, skiing, and all the things you've learned to do. You thought you'd look silly in all of them, but you didn't. You looked great.'' The kid nodded and took the hand of one of the Braille Institute coaches, slowly walking toward the obstacle course. ``Nick and all these kids don't have the validation See validate. validation - The stage in the software life-cycle at the end of the development process where software is evaluated to ensure that it complies with the requirements. sighted kids do - the opportunity of seeing how beginners look,'' James said, watching his son walk up to the starting line starting line n. Sports The point or line at which a race begins. Noun 1. starting line - a line indicating the location of the start of a race or a game scratch line, scratch, start with half a dozen other kids just like him. Kids ready to take down another wall put up in front of them. The smile on Nick's face a few minutes later told the story. He didn't need those extra hands at the top of the wall to help him over. He didn't need anyone's help to clear another hurdle HURDLE, Eng. law. A species of sledge, used to draw traitors to execution. in his path. ``How'd I look, Dad?'' he asked breathlessly breath·less adj. 1. Breathing with difficulty; gasping: was breathless from running. 2. Marked by the suspension of regular breathing, as from tension or excitement: , hugging his father and mother after making it through the entire obstacle course. ``You looked great, son, absolutely great,'' James Jackson said. As I said, the kid's 10 now. On Saturday, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., he'll compete in his fifth-straight competition at the Braille Institute's Youth Center at 3450 Cahuenga Blvd. W., just below the entrance to Universal Studios. There will be 270 kids, ages 6 to 19 from all over the country, in the competition - striving to knock down walls during the nine events scheduled. Nick will be one of them, and he's not afraid of looking silly anymore. Put the wall up. He'll knock it down. MEMO: Dennis McCarthy's column appears Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday. CAPTION(S): PHOTO James Jackson offers the voice of encouragement to his son Nic holas. Evan Yee/Daily News |
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