Special Athletes Compete

Thousands of athletes, coaches, volunteers and spectators came to Harvard over the weekend for the 25th Massachusetts Special Olympics.

Although this was the first year that either Harvard or Boston University, where the bowling and gymnastic events took place, served as the site of the competition for disabled athletes, the competition ran smoothly.

"It was a nice campus and a nice layout," Christine M. Brown, Special Olympics director of publicity and media relations, said. "It all worked out well."

The approximately 2,000 athletes participating in the Games were unfazed by the fluctuations in weather, carrying on despite the heat, humidity and sun on Saturday and the intermittent rain on Sunday.

The Harvard department of athletics said the Special Olympics had told them that about 8,000 spectators attended the events, which at Harvard included track and field, softball, volleyball, power lifting, tennis, roller skating and aquatics. There was one event completely unaffected by the weather--volleyball, which took place in posh Shad Hall, the Business School athletic complex usually restricted to Business School affiliates and some Allston residents.

Volleyball official Gwen E. Keough said Saturday she was enjoying the air conditioning. "We had done it at Boston College last year. The facilities were very nice but it was not air-conditioned. It makes it really nice for officials and participants," Keough said.

Others were not so lucky, but still said they thought the competition was going well. "It's very hot," Mark Maynard, who took a gold in figures and dance roller skating, said of the atmosphere in the Bright Hockey Arena, where the event was held.

His coach Edward McCarthy, of the Southeast New Bedford Hot Wheels, shared Maynard's opinion of the heat. Nevertheless, citing the numerous athletes he coaches who brought home medals, he said he was enjoying the competition.

"It's the athletes--they do all the work," said Maynard, who was attending his third Special Olympics. "I'll keep doing this until I get old."

Many athletes and coaches at the Games were long-time participants. Volleyball player James Dunn of the Belmont Bashers said he had participated in the Special Olympics for six years. "I like to play all the sports they offer," Dunn said. "I'm going to go check on the other events later."

But even Dunn couldn't match the record of Alice E. Monaghan, who said she had participated since the first Massachusetts Special Olympics in 1968, with only a few years off.

"I won a gold medal in swimming," said Monaghan, who added that she also participated in downhill skiing at the Winter Special Olympics. "Hey--fat people have a right, too," she said.

Those who wanted a break from the sports could head over to the activity tents, where everything from bands to jugglers were available for entertainment. William F. Nickerson had plenty of events to handle--among other things, he was entered in the standing long jump, in which he won a gold medal, and the 400 meter run. But he still found time to build an edifice at the Lego table--and to think about some fun for later.

"I don't think it's hot," Nickerson said. "I'm going to have a good time at the dance tonight with my girl-friend."