Under the anthem, “Rise with Us,” the Special Olympics USA Games, July 1-6, saw 100,000 spectators, 15,000 volunteers, and 4,000 athletes celebrate the power of sports. This was a special year for the Special Olympics, as 2018 marks the 50th anniversary of the organization. Seattle, the location for the games this year, made the USA Games one to remember.

The host city put on entertainment.

Boothbay region coach Toby LeConte accompanied three of her athletes to the Games. She praised Seattle for running a great event, saying it was, “a great atmosphere and was well run.”

The Boothbay region athletes succeeded in their events.

Danny Miller won gold medals in the 50-meter freestyle and 50-meter backstroke, a silver medal in the 100-meter freestyle, and fourth place in the relay event. Miller won the first gold medal for the Maine Special Olympics team.

Swimmer Grace Giles earned a gold medal in the 50-meter freestyle, a bronze in the 100-meter freestyle and fourth in the relay event.

Valerie Giles scored a goal in the July 3 soccer game against Hawaii. Her team went on to win silver. LeConte coached the track and field team and said it did “awesome.”

LeConte spoke of the fantastic things the athletes did in Seattle. They traded pins with other Olympians, visited extinct volcanoes and were entertained with music and more. The group also got dozens of free gifts from event sponsors.

LeConte said the Games highlighted the organization’s work in sport, education, health and community-building. Special Olympics, through a program called “Special Olympics Healthy Athletes,” screens athletes in seven categories – podiatry, vision, dentistry, physical therapy/fitness, nutrition and healthy habits, audiology, and emotional well-being and provides them with equipment, helps with health needs and more. This program started in 1997 to address the lack of healthcare people with intellectual disabilities were receiving. In the 2018 Games, over 7,000 screenings were done to ensure the athletes were healthy.

The athletes spoke excitedly of their favorite moments at the games. Grace Giles said the closing ceremony was her favorite due to the beads she received. She demonstrated how she transformed the beaded necklaces into bracelets. Valerie Giles said her favorite event was a Seattle Mariners game. Miller’s favorite was a tie between the Spiderman Museum and the Space Needle.

LeConte mentioned their warm welcome home at the Portland Jetport, where they received flowers and cheers from local followers of the event, and a standing ovation from strangers in the airport. Overcome with emotion about the gesture, LeConte said, “It was a moving thing to see. They were complete strangers, but understood the great things these kids just did.” The athletes were ecstatic, and smiles were seen all around, said LeConte.