PLAYERS' HARD WORK PAYS OFF SPECIAL OLYMPICS DAY OF FUN, GAMES.Byline: Lisa M. Sodders Staff Writer GLENDALE - More than 460 athletes gathered Saturday to compete in everything from tennis to boccie ball at the Tri-Valley Special Olympics competition at Glendale High School Glendale High School can refer to:
For the athletes, it was a day to enjoy the sports they love and take pride in their accomplishments. Woodland Hills resident Kristine Johnson, 37, who has Down syndrome Down syndrome, congenital disorder characterized by mild to severe mental retardation, slow physical development, and characteristic physical features. Down syndrome affects about 1 in every 730 live births and occurs in all populations equally. , enjoys several sports - but particularly tennis. ``It's my favorite sport,'' she said, as she and Theresa Maseda, 22, waited their turn on the court. ``My favorite part is hitting the ball.'' The Tri-Valley chapter has 850 Special Olympics athletes who train year-round and range in age from eight to 80, said Jan Maseda, the area director and Theresa's mother. The athletes' disabilities include autism autism (ô`tĭzəm), developmental disability resulting from a neurological disorder that affects the normal functioning of the brain. It is characterized by the abnormal development of communication skills, social skills, and reasoning. , mental retardation mental retardation, below average level of intellectual functioning, usually defined by an IQ of below 70 to 75, combined with limitations in the skills necessary for daily living. , cerebral palsy cerebral palsy (sərē`brəl pôl`zē), disability caused by brain damage before or during birth or in the first years, resulting in a loss of voluntary muscular control and coordination. , Down syndrome and epilepsy/seizure disorders. Molly Dicus, 15, of Calabasas received a trophy as an inspirational athlete in swimming. Dicus, who is autistic autistic /au·tis·tic/ (aw-tis´tik) characterized by or pertaining to autism. and also competes in tennis, loves to dive and ``jump in the water,'' she said firmly. Her mother, Thana Tha·na See Thane. Dicus, 54, said events like Saturday's give the athletes a place to exercise in an encouraging atmosphere. Many exercise clubs and classes aren't as welcoming, she said. ``I love it,'' Thana Dicus said. ``It's great for the kids. It's great for the parents and all the volunteers.'' Two of those volunteers were Al Burke, 51, of La Crescenta, an actor and professional wrestler, and actor Skip O'Brien, 54, of Glendora, whose roles include Detective Ray O'Riley on ``CSI CSI Crime Scene Investigator CSI CompuServe, Inc. CSI Commodity Systems, Inc. CSI Commodity Systems Inc. (Boca Raton, FL) CSI Crime Scene Investigation (CBS TV show) CSI Christian Schools International .'' Both said the athletes' hard work, enthusiasm and sheer enjoyment of the events were inspirational. ``I would have gotten a lot further in life if I was 100 percent dedicated like they are,'' said Burke, who has volunteered for 21 years. Jan Maseda said the chapter relies heavily on volunteers, donations and fundraisers. Hosting an event like Saturday's costs $10,000, and a single bus for a team to travel to an event can run $800. The athletes compete in 13 different events. For more information about Special Olympics, visit www.sosc.org/trivalley.html. Lisa M. Sodders, (818) 713-3663 lisa.sodders(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- 2) Runners, above, take off from the starting line of the 200-meter event at the Tri-Valley Special Olympics. Below, competitors wave to the crowd as they receive their medals. Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News |
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