Inspiring greatness

Friday morning at the Mat-Su Borough Gym, elementary school students from six district schools teamed together for a day of physical fitness, taking part in competitions ranging from tug-of-war to sprints. The roar of the crowd was deafening at times, and smiles could be seen on each and every competitors' face.

Those smiles were the most important aspect of the first Unified Sports Challenge Day, organizers said. That's because for the first time in the Valley, the competitors threw abilities out the window and just played together -- the event brought together students with disabilities and without disabilities, as a partnership between Special Olympics Alaska and the Mat-Su School District brought the athletes together.

"We are finally starting to break some stereotypes, and events like this really help promote unity," said Jim Balamaci, the president and CEO of Special Olympics Alaska. "The next generation will not have those stereotypes, they will be one community. We're showing that by pairing athletes together, they all can be very successful and make a lifetime commitment to physical fitness."

There have been other Unified Sports Challenge Day events held around the statewide, but the Mat-Su event was a big "first" for Special Olympics Alaska -- it marked the first time in state history the event was coordinated by physical education teachers within a school district.

For four weeks, students with disabilities trained with other students in a unified setting in physical education classes. Friday, six schools -- Pioneer Peak, Cottonwood Creek, Butte, Snowshoe, Finger Lake and Sherrod -- each brought contingents of 20 students each, with ability levels that varied wildly. It didn't matter, because just being out on the court was a victory for many of the students.

"It was very evident that it was a major success. It's what we were hoping for," said Sally Dubois, the physical education teacher at Pioneer Peak and the lead organizer for the event. "I think next year, we are hoping to have it at the new sports complex, and include all the schools."

Dubois said that as the event was starting to get organized, more and more schools wanted to be a part of it. Since the event was in its infancy, it was limited to six schools, but it didn't dampen the excitement level one bit.

"It brought the public together, and it gave the children activities in the perfect setting," Dubois said.

Each school also had cheering sections of students who were selected just for that -- to help provide support.

"These children need to be in the limelight. That was what the event was all about -- children cheering for each other, and rooting each other on, regardless of whether or not they had a disability. That didn't even matter to them."

It all added to up to one successful event, and Special Olympics organizers were thrilled with the response.

"That's a major statement for the PE teachers out here in the Valley," said Nicolle Egan, the vice-president of Special Olympics Alaska. "Three to four years ago, we started partnering with teachers to help teach basic skills to our athletes, that way when they want to try sports, they are ready. Events like this help the athletes tremendously."

While the Unified Sports Challenge Day events are about sports, they speak to a much bigger mission that Special Olympics Alaska tries to promote.

"In some high schools, for example, they have snowboarding clubs that some of our athletes may participate in. One day at school, somebody may say something about a Special Olympian because they may look a little different," Balamaci said. "Then another student will say, 'No, she's cool. We snowboard together,' and those barriers start to be eliminated. It's a long process, but we're moving in that direction."

Balamaci said that school programs help speed that process along.

"If we can get more socialization going, recreation and sports will follow," he said. "Our goal one day is to run a track meet with ASAA [the Alaska School Activities Association] with athletes of all abilities. We can unite communities."