.png)
LONG BEACH, CA---I am no superstar athlete. It’s a reality I’ve learned to accept with overtime.
But even the less than athletic can be moved to fervency.
I was only 8 years old when the 2015 Special Olympics took place in Los Angeles, California. Pom poms and all, I tagged along with my parents as a mini reporter of sorts. From there, the atmosphere of the sports world infected me.
The Special Olympics holds a special place in my heart for the sheer significance it poses in the communities it serves and for exposing me to a place where empathy was a strength, not a weakness.
I never forgot the people I met, and the kindness of everyone involved. It kept things in perspective.
The movement prides itself on its athlete’s oath : “Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”
It’s pretty captivating.
The 2023 Special Olympics Summer Games in Long Beach was the first time I returned to the organization since 2015, excluding some smaller events I volunteered for this year.
With the grace of its organizers, I was able to obtain media credentials with my very good friend (and the best photographer I know) Jonah Breton.
Amongst a festival-like environment is a celebration of inclusivity and the simple act of attempting. The crowds are electric and loud, and the animosity of rivalry and egotism absent.
Supported by a great number of grassroots volunteers, local celebrities, companies, and local law enforcement, a hopefulness you wish there was more of in the world emerges—unmitigated empathy.
While the awards are shiny and the accolades are tempting, there is an undeniable quality to these games that cannot be quantified by any kind of metal:
Heart.
Because at the end of the day, the real success is the collective effort to make these games happen—and create a safe place for those who need it most.
To learn more about the Special Olympics and how to volunteer, visit this link.
Photo Credit: Jonah Breton
Comments