U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern's 25th Special Olympics

Tobias Zwally, 8, from the Reha-Westpfalz Schule in Landstuhl, Germany, shows his medal to his Buddy, Caryn Rodriguez, Vogelweh Elementary School fifth-grade teacher, while watching an exhibition soccer game between teams U.S.A. and Germany May 2 at the U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern’s 24th Annual Special Olympics Spring Games 2007 at the Police Academy in Enkenbach-Alsenborn. More photos of past years’ Special Olympics can be found at the garrison photo gallery at http://www.flickr.com/photos/usag_kaiserslautern. Photo by Christine June, USAG Kaiserslautern PAO.

U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern's 25th Special Olympics

Matt Hansen, a fifth grader at the Landstuhl Elementary and Middle School, takes a break with his buddy, Senior Airman James Carlson, with the 86th Airlift Wing on Ramstein Air Base, at the U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern's 20th Special Olympics Spring Games at the German Police Academy in Enkenbach-Alsenborn. More photos of past years’ Special Olympics can be found at the garrison photo gallery at http://www.flickr.com/photos/usag_kaiserslautern. Photo by Christine June, USAG Kaiserslautern PAO.

U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern's 25th Special Olympics

Stefan Kasjutin, 11, an athlete from the Schule am Beilstein in Kaiserslautern, and his buddy, Airman 1st Class Lukas Miller, from the 435th Air Base Wing's Civil Engineer Squadron, share laughter and good times at the U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern's 25th Special Olympics Spring Games at the German Police Squadron in Enkenbach-Alsenborn. More photos of past years’ Special Olympics can be found at the garrison photo gallery at http://www.flickr.com/photos/usag_kaiserslautern. Photo by Christine June, USAG Kaiserslautern PAO.

Volunteers needed for 800 Special Olympians

Published Jan. 4, 2010
By Christine June
USAG Kaiserslautern

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany -- Jason Ille's job affords him the opportunity to be a part of "triumph over adversity" and all the smiles that go with it.

"I have the luckiest job in the word," said Ille, who is the coordinator for the U.S. Army Garrison Kaiserslautern's Special Olympics. "I meet with people who have had hard lives and yet, are so joyful. It helps me connect with the strongest part of myself."

Special Olympics is an international program of a athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. It comes to the Kaiserslautern military community each year courtesy of the garrison and German Police Academy.

The garrison's 27th Special Olympics Spring Games happens May 12 at the German Police Academy in Enkenbach-Alsenborn, Germany.

German and American military members, civilians and family members here and in surrounding communities can also feel connected and see all those smiles by volunteering at this year's Special Olympics.

"Without our amazing volunteers and their incredible energy, commitment and enthusiasm, the (USAG) Kaiserslautern Special Olympics wouldn't be possible," said Ellen Summey, the garrison Army Community Service's Army Volunteer Corps coordinator.

Close to 2,000 volunteers are needed to set up, tear down, serve food, register athletes, and operate the competitive and non-competitive games, said Mr. Ille. The bulk of that number - 1,300 to 1,500 - volunteers will be needed as a buddy or personal cheerleader for an athlete. Buddies are paired with athletes and help them throughout the day going to events and lunch.

At least 800 athletes will be having fun, developing skills and building self-esteem at this year's Special Olympics, said Ille. With this number of athletes - many traveling great distances - spectators are also needed at this year's games.

"With about 38 schools represented throughout Europe, we have many athletes who will not be able to have their friends and families there to cheer them on," said Mr. Ille, who added every year organizers made the same appeal for more spectators.

His words to encourage everyone here and in the surrounding communities are: "When you do nothing, you feel overwhelmed and powerless, but when you get involved, you feel the sense of hope and accomplishment that comes from knowing you are working to make things better."

Volunteers must be registered with Army Community Service to help out with the garrison's Special Olympics, said Michelle Thomas, the garrison's ACS director. To learn how and what forms to fill out, future Special Olympic volunteers can call Mrs. Summey at 493-4232 or 0631-3406-4232, or the garrison ACS Outreach Coordinator Selinda Torbert at 493-4062 or 0631-3406-4062.