From Dragonfly: Special Olympics

This weekend features the Special Olympics of Carswell. About fifty participants, all in wheelchairs, are participating in a variety of challenges - such as being run around the track by an INA, basketball, strength challenges, wheel chair decor/theme, and so much more! Yesterday was the opening games - with a highlighted speaker who happens to be a single leg amputee. On Monday, at the closing ceremonies, we will hear from a double legged amputee who was allowed to RE-ENLIST in the military! With so many amputee's at Carswell, the messages of hope are going to the ears of those who need it most.

Yesterday, a parade of wheel chairs, headed by a fake train, made it's way down the main corridor of the compound. The streets were lined with onlookers, all cheering for their favorite 'athletes' and their favorite decorated chairs. There was the "flower child," who wore a crochet flower lei across her head and had her chair surrounded by a cardboard decorated sign saying "convertible of flowers." There was the "lollipop girl," who had two huge lollipops sticking up the sides of her chair. So many fun wheelchairs. All the chairs have fun designs in their wheels, so as the women roll or are rolled around the grounds, the glittered designs sparkle in the sun's rays. While such decor would be contraband any other time of the year, for this weekend, they can keep their chairs decorated, even in the chow hall.

Participants were young and old - 20's through 80's, but this is not a competition that looked at age. It was about fun, and fun was had by all. More than 30 volunteers helped move the participants around to where they needed to be, and ensured the safety of everyone. By 2pm, the festivities were done for the afternoon, leading many in their chairs to take naps from the exhausting schedule of events. In the clinic, participants who needed injections for various ailments, could be seen sleeping right in their chairs as they waited to be called to the back by the nursing staff.

Many offices around campus closed, so that staff and inmate workers had the opportunity to attend the festivities. The library and education were closed for the afternoon. There were dozens of Carswell staff present for the parade and opening speakers. The support for the participants was huge.

The Olympics will run all weekend. From what I can tell, not even the participants are aware of everything going on - they are just told the next place to show up, and they do. On Monday, the closing ceremonies will take place. There will be prizes for the top three winners. Bragging rights for being the compound's top wheelchair athletes will last for a year, until next year someone else, perhaps, takes the prize.