NOT JUST FUN AND GAMES : `SPECIAL OLYMPICS HAS HAD A PROFOUND INFLUENCE ON JANELLE'S LIFE AND OUR FAMILY LIFE'.Byline: Ramona Shelburne Ramona Shelburne is an American sports journalist currently writing for the Los Angeles Daily News. Shelburne was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She attended El Camino Real High School in Woodland Hills, California where she was a class valedictorian. Staff Writer Boys' basketball players at Valencia High don't need to look far to know what coach Gary Spindt wants from them. His daughter Janelle, who will compete in the equestrian competition at this summer's Special Olympics World Games The Special Olympics World Games are an international sporting competition for athletes with intellectual disabilities, organized by Special Olympics. Like the Olympic Games and the Paralympic Games, the Special Olympics World Games include summer and winter versions, and in North Carolina North Carolina, state in the SE United States. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean (E), South Carolina and Georgia (S), Tennessee (W), and Virginia (N). Facts and Figures Area, 52,586 sq mi (136,198 sq km). Pop. beginning today, is a fixture at Valencia's practices and games. Spindt points to his developmentally disabled daughter as a model of competitiveness and inspiration. ``I use her and all Special Olympians as an inspiration for my basketball team. If I could get everyone on my team to compete like them, that would really be something,'' Spindt said. Gary Spindt and his wife, Maureen, adopted Janelle in 1987 from Holt International. The Korean-born Pyung Sook Juang - who was later named Janelle - arrived malnourished mal·nour·ished adj. Affected by improper nutrition or an insufficient diet. and covered by a rash. Within four days of her arrival, she had the first of many grand mal seizures grand mal seizure n. A sudden attack or convulsion characterized by generalized muscle spasms and loss of consciousness; it is recurrent in grand mal. Also called generalized tonic-clonic seizure. that would land her in the hospital throughout her childhood. Eventually, doctors found medication that could control her seizures but her speaking, language and cognitive abilities were delayed. Janelle joined the Special Olympics Special Olympics International sports program for people with intellectual disability. It provides year-round training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type summer and winter sports for participants. program after a bad experience with a recreational softball team. The Spindts have enrolled Janelle in swimming, horseback riding horseback riding: see equestrianism. , soccer, basketball, softball, and floor-hockey programs with Special Olympics. Needless to say, Janelle has been busy. When asked to pick a favorite of her many sports, the clever and playful 16-year-old, listed basketball and horseback riding. ``I like to play (basketball)!'' she exclaimed and then diplomatically added, ``and watch,'' as her father looked on. Janelle trains at the Tri-Valley Equestrian Center in Chatsworth with volunteer coaches Bo Kane and Barney McGeary. Kane, a handsome and gregarious actor who has appeared on General Hospital among other television shows, has been a volunteer with Special Olympics for 13 years. ``I've been pretty lucky in life so far and this is an opportunity to give back, to give people less fortunate an opportunity to succeed,'' Kane said. ``The best part is seeing them smile when they get something.'' McGeary is more reserved in demeanor than Kane but no less dedicated to the cause. Also an actor by trade, McGeary is a rugged grandfather-type. ``I can't say enough about the coaches,'' said Maureen Spindt. ``The last year that Barney found out she was going to the World Games
The World Games, first held in 1981, are an international multi-sport event, meant for sports that are not contested in the Olympic Games. , he has really put in a lot of extra time with her.'' Kane and McGeary are just two of the more than 500,000 volunteers who organize and run local Special Olympics programs. ``Special Olympics has had a profound influence on Janelle's life and our family life,'' Maureen Spindt said. ``Janelle has much more self-esteem and finally has something to share with her family and friends.'' Aside from the physical and emotional benefits, the Special Olympics provides a community for those who might otherwise be excluded because of their disabilities. The Spindt's are active members in the Santa Clarita Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, chapter of Special Olympics, where Gary and Maureen have found supportive friends among the parents of other special-needs children. Janelle met her prom date at the Santa Clarita Chapter. ``It was fun, I did every dance,'' Janelle said. ``There was a pink dress (that) I (wore), my hair was in curls.'' One of Janelle's closest friends from the Special Olympics program is 22-year-old Glendale resident Joseph Vartanian. As the two Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, representatives in the equestrian competition, Joseph and Janelle have seen each other at many Special Olympics events. Drawn together by their competitive natures, they have been training together in preparation for the World Games. Although neither the Spindts nor the Vartanians put pressure on Janelle or Justin to win, it's apparent the children are a bit more competitive than their parents. ``Joseph and Janelle were at this competition in Burbank and this was the first time that they didn't get a medal or a ribbon. Both of them were just like, Huh?'' Maureen Spindt said. ``Then the other two kids who won came over and gave them their ribbons - it was really special.'' In contrast to professional sports The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. Please [ improve this article] or discuss the issue on the talk page. , this kind of sportsmanship is not uncommon in the Special Olympics. The main goal is not just to win, but as Janelle explained, ``To sit up straight and hold my head up high.'' CAPTION(S): 2 Photos PHOTO (1--2) Janelle Spindt, with equestrian coach Bo Kane, and 70 other Southland athletes will represent the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. at the World Games today through July 4. More than 7,000 athletes from 150 countries will compete in the event. Shaun Dyer/Special to the Daily News |
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