KADENA AIR BASE, OKINAWA, Japan --
More than 6,000 people crowded onto the field next to Risner Fitness Complex on Kadena Air Base Nov. 6 as the master of ceremonies announced, "following a tradition as old as the Olympic Games themselves, the Special Olympics Torch will now be brought into the arena."
The crowd cheered as the torch bearer, Wataru Takashiba, from Misaki Special Needs School, made his way to the podium and lit the Special Olympics Flame kicking off the 11th Annual Special Olympics on Kadena Air Base. The flame would burn continuously throughout the games as a reminder of Olympic spirit.
"This is just an awesome event," said Air Force Capt. Justin L. Hauffe, a co-pilot with 909th Air Refueling Squadron, 18th Operations Group, 18th Wing, Pacific Air Forces, and master of ceremonies for the opening and closing ceremonies. "The Special Olympics goes way past being American and Japanese. This kind of thing is something done around the world for the (disabled)."
Hauffe said the Kadena Special Olympics provided 850 participants the opportunity to compete against each other and be the stars for a day.
The Special Olympics was an entire day devoted to helping participants have fun, said Hauffe.
It was an incredible experience to see all the participants giving everything they had in every event whether they were competing in foot races, tennis, soccer, floor hockey, crown golf, softball throw, frisbee toss, wheelchair bean bag drop, standing long jump, or basketball, said Cpl. Paul M. Martinez, a motor transportation noncommissioned officer with 7th Communication Battalion, III Marine Expeditionary Force Headquarters Group, III MEF.
The foot races varied from 30 to 200 meters, and during all events participants were encouraged by cheering crowds, and designated "huggers" who worked with them for the day.
Volunteer "huggers" were assigned to each athlete to provide help getting to and from events and offer encouragement during competitions.
Martinez said he plans to attend next year and hopes a lot of Marines will be attending again as well.
More than 340 Marines volunteered for this year’s Special Olympics.
"Everyone here really tried their best," said Martinez, who volunteered as a "hugger." "None of them let their disability bring them down as they competed against each other today."
Anyone thinking about volunteering for next year’s Special Olympics should definitely do it, because it is a good way to get out and experience things and really give back to the Okinawa community, said Martinez.
"It shows the good that we are all capable of, and it means even more to me, because I have the privilege to do it in another country and really give back to the community," he added.
Judging by the countless smiling faces and endless laughter from the participants, they all felt like stars, Hauffe said.