Special Olympics was established of athletic activities and recreation programs for handicapped peoples in 1968. Aiming is that they can gain self-confidence through this activities NCO groups of Yokota Air Base organized Kanto Special Olympics in 1980, International Special Olympics Association approved of only one official organization in Japan. It's 29th games this year.
Day of 17th May was so splendid. About three hundred athletes and their families, many supporters and volunteers to events gathered from Kanto Plains. Ceremony was started with athletes marching led by.Yokota High School Band.
Head of KSO, Col.Paul J.Montgomery (374th AW/VC) stated "Today's we can have very good weather. This Olympics is held by athletes, families, many supporters and volunteers. All athletes, please challenge to break your own record (outline)" in opening speech. Successively, representatives athletes from Japan and US sides took an oath, "We do our best aiming at victory. We show courage and do my best even if I cannot win". At ceremony, chairperson of KSO expressed appreciation to JAAGA's support and gave letter of appreciation and memorial plaque to JAAGA's representative, Hirose JAAGA's chairperson.
Then representative athlete of 14 groups hold with sacred torch entered stadium, run around track, and put fire on platform. Big shout of joy and applause occurred to see sacred big fire flame.
Competitive event are basketball, 50m/100m/200m/400m race, 400m relay race, jumping, bowling, 1 mile race, softball throwing, swimming and other joyful events.
KSO was supported by more than one thousand volunteer. Lots of symbol flags, Misyuku , Nerima, Asaka, Fuchu, Higasi Tachikawa, Ohmiya NCOs organizations of Self Defense Force were flutter around stadium. We heard that 600 SDFs members supported KSO. Many JASDF airmen and their families joined to KSO from Iruma, Fuchu and Hyakuri AB..
Col.Montgomery said "it is hard to open Kanto Special Olympics without volunteers from Self Defense Forces, and we really appreciate JAAGA's support." We replied that we will well cooperate with USAF about KSO and will support. After enjoying this events, we left Yokota AB. with satisfaction. (Reported by secretariat Okamura)
