Small steps but giant effort from some World Games' athletes
© from The Irish Times 26 June 2003. Reprinted with permission, all rights reserved.
by Alison Healy
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Jonathan Howley removes his cap prior to participating in the bean bag lift, one of the events in the Motor Activities Training Program (MATP) at the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games. [Photo by Eric Luke, IRELAND OUT] |
The audience held its breath as Jonathan Howley faced the table. His task was to move a little bean bag into a basket.
But nothing was happening. His coach Anthony Corcoran gave him a gentle prompt. Howley took off his peaked cap, carefully placed it on the table and looked around him.
He picked up one bean bag and threw it in to the basket. The audience erupted into applause. A second bag went in. He was on a roll.
Howley, 15 years old, was one of 30 Special Olympics Ireland participants in the Motor Activities Training Program (MATP) at the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games. MATP is for athletes who don't yet have the skills to participate in a competitive environment. It aims to develop their motor skills, with tasks such as pushing a ball, or stepping across a low bar. Many athletes have physical disabilities, as well as severe learning disabilities.
Some will progress to lower ability events in areas such as gymnastics or bowling. Others won't, but the participation will improve their coordination and social skills.
Emotion is a word frequently used with Special Olympics, but MATP must be the most moving event of all to watch. Never mind cutting the atmosphere with a knife, you could have used a ladle to spoon the emotion at yesterday's event. Many eyes blinked away tears when the music swelled and the athletes paraded around the floor, either in wheelchairs, or linked by their coaches.
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"Gary can't communicate but we can see the excitement in his eyes," said Padraic Durcan of his son. "This whole event is tremendous. We'll never see anything like it again." [Photo by Eric Luke, IRELAND OUT] |
Gary Durcan, age 14, was also a participant in the bean bag lift. He sat in his wheelchair and gazed at the blue and yellow bags. If the silent urging of the audience could have moved them, they would have soared over Ballsbridge.
"I think he needs a little encouragement," said the venue emcee, Nicola O'Lone.
As the audience cheered, Gary stretched out a hand. Then he pulled it back. The hand went out again and the yellow bag was in the air and into the basket. Had he just climbed Mount Everest and abseiled back down in time for tea, Gary wouldn't have received more applause.
His father Padraic was elated. "We are very, very proud, needless to say. Gary can't communicate but we can see the excitement in his eyes," he said. "This whole event is tremendous. We'll never see anything like it again."
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Peadar Connelly enters Croke Park stadium with his Special Olympics Ireland teammates for Opening Ceremonies of the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games, which took place 21-19 June in Dublin, Ireland. [Photo by David Maher, *EDI*] |
It can be nerve-wracking for coaches who don't know how their athletes will respond to the different environment. "It's unpredictable," said Mary Kearney of the Kilcornan Brothers of Charity Centre in Clarinbridge, who coaches Peadar Connelly. "Peadar can do the events, but maybe not on cue," said Mary. "He could decide to go off in the middle of it. But getting this far is the main thing. Anything after that is a bonus."
Her worrying was in vain. Connelly was unfazed as he walked into the arena, with a newspaper in his hand. The ball appeared in front of him. He nonchalantly kicked it and sauntered off.
The 60 supporters from the Kilcornan Centre whooped with delight. "That was brilliant! Peadar was absolutely brilliant," Kearney said, her eyes shining.
"It could take several months of intensive training to do one of the tasks," said her coaching colleague Jackie Moran. "[They] have been training for three times a week for this. It's been a fantastic experience for us all."
Asked if the athletes she coaches have severe disabilities, Kearney replied: "We wouldn't say that. We look at their abilities, not disabilities. They just need that extra bit of caring."
Afterwards, the athletes mounted the small wheelchair-friendly podium to receive their challenge award medals.
Flushed with success, Jonathan Howley broke away from his coach and did a lap of honor, ending in a rugby tackle. "He's enjoying himself," said his father Tom. "I was a bit worried because he doesn't like to be in different environments, but this is marvelous." | 
