FOR THE LOVE OF THE GAMES SOUTHLAND SPECIAL OLYMPIANS ENJOY DAY OF FRIENDLY COMPETITION.

Byline: Kerry Cavanaugh Staff Writer

With a brand-new gold medal around his neck, Antelope Valley athlete Matthew Haley shook his hips, pumped his arms in the air, then embraced the nearest volunteer.

There's a lot of hugging at the Special Olympics.

During the Tri-Valley Games at Glendale High School on Saturday, competitors hugged coaches, hugged fellow athletes, hugged bystanders.

``It's a very loving atmosphere. The participants are very supportive of each other and the volunteers are compassionate,'' said Rita Bright, whose 27-year-old daughter, Theresa, was competing in boccie, an Italian game similar to lawn bowling.

The event brought hundreds of San Fernando Valley and Santa Clarita Valley athletes who ran, swam, shot hoops and tossed boccie balls.

From its inception in 1968, the Special Olympics has given disabled men and women the opportunity to test their skills, win medals and enjoy the camaraderie and pleasure of sporting competition.

But it's not too competitive. It's the kind of event where the last athlete to cross the finish line gets more applause than the first and runners grin and giggle as they jog past the cheering crowd.

Chris Scranton, 42, of Lancaster is a longtime Special Olympics athlete with 12 gold medals under his belt. He awaited his chance to burn up the track in the 50-meter and 100-meter events Saturday.

``I'm here to have fun and see everybody have their gold medals,'' said Scranton, relaxing before his race with his teammates from the Antelope Valley. ``The competition is good. It's good encouragement and good gladness being in Special Olympics.''

For some athletes, Special Olympics is the rare opportunity to mix in a social atmosphere and to be the center of attention.

``It's such a great organization for our kids,'' said Karen Poulsom, a coach with the Antelope Valley team whose child was also competing. ``It's just like a big family. They're not ostracized or criticized here. They're treated like people.''

It's not just kids. Special Olympians range from elementary school age to more than 80 years old. Sports such as boccie allow the older folks to participate in the games for the first time.

Over at the swimming pool, diminutive Lynn Higa, 32, of Monterey Park prepared to swim the 100-yard freestyle, 50-yard backstroke and the butterfly stroke. There was no nervousness.

``I just go for it!'' Higa said.

Her friend and fellow swimmer Stephanie Taylor chimed in: ``She's an awful good swimmer.''

Higa finished third in the 100-yard race and climbed out of the pool. Her parents and relatives waited on the side, ready to congratulate her.

Kerry Cavanaugh, [phone]

kerry.cavanaugh(at)dailynews.com

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2 photos

Photo:

(1) Player Gabriel Pacheco stays on the ball in a tennis competition at the Tri-Valley Games on Saturday morning in Glendale.

(2) Rebecca Hermsen, left, carries the Special Olympics torch with LAPD Officer Jullian Almarez at the opening ceremony.

Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer