By Edina Lekovic

Summer Bruin Senior Staff

Shouting their oath, "Let me win; but if I cannot win let me be brave in the attempt," more than 1300 athletes stood in Drake Stadium on Friday, officially opening the first annual Southern California Special Olympics Summer Games.

Held at UCLA for over 15 years, the Summer Games brought together nearly 4000 athletes and volunteers from throughout Southern California.

The1996 games marked the first time in over 25 years that the event excluded competitors from Northern California. In the past, the Summer Games have been a competition between athletes from all over California, but organizers decided to divide the state into two regions to allow more participation.

"We were able to enlarge the program and bring more athletes from Southern California than ever by splitting up the state," said Dick Van Kirk, CEO of the Southern California Special Olympics.

For 28 years, the Special Olympics program has provided athletic training and competition for mentally retarded children and adults. Organizers said they hope to integrate their athletes into society by promoting understanding and acceptance of people with mental retardation.

"The efforts of the (Special Olympics) volunteers has already changed how this country treats people with mental retardation," said Rafer Johnson, an Olympic gold medalist in the decathlon and a founding board member of the California branch of Special Olympics. "The reason we always come is so that we can see our athletes become the best they can be."

Organizers emphasized the importance of the games in light of the quickly approaching Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, and were quick to show the parallels between the two games.

"You don't have to go to Atlanta to have an Olympic experience," Van Kirk said.

The Summer Games include six events, including track and field, basketball, aquatics and gymnastics. Although Southern California Special Olympics holds competitions for 19 individual and team sports throughout the year, the Summer Games is the largest competition by far, officials said.

Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Special Olympics has since grown to include 1.1 million athletes in 143 countries. The California branch of the Special Olympics was created in 1969.

Organizers said they are able to put on such an expansive event only through the help of corporate and private sponsors, who often donate not only money, but manpower to Special Olympics. Over 130 volunteers from the Walt Disney Company took part in this weekend's activities.

"There is such purity and commitment in the athletes," Phil Nemy, an executive at the Walt Disney Company and head of the Disney's volunteers, said. "Once you (volunteer) once, you're hooked."

While officials said that Special Olympics changes the lives of the athletes, they also noted the effect the program has on the nearly 2,500 volunteers.

"A lot of people take vacation time to come work their butts off," Nemy said. "The athletes are incredible people and make this an unforgettable experience."

I defy anyone to come out and not be affected (by the experience)," Nemy added.

Nancy Ward, director of development and communications for Southern California Special Olympics, was drawn to the organization after she saw a videotape which featured 12 athletes.

"I wondered how could anyone not want to be involved?" she said. "It was just too amazing an experience to pass up."

Officials noted that many of the athletes return to Special Olympics year after year.

Elaine Hartman has been a competitor in Special Olympics for over 20 years. As part of Athletes for Outreach, Hartman helps recruit sponsors and educates the public by speaking about Special Olympics.

"I like the feeling of competition, and I like to win," Hartman said. "I also like the energy that comes from everybody here."

Ward emphasized the team effort involved in putting together the Summer Games.

"You have close to 3,000 people who don't know each other, but somehow, they pull it off and create an unforgettable event," Ward said.

Officials said they continue to use UCLA because of the quality of the facilities.

"UCLA has the best collection of venues," said Nancy Ward, director of development and communications for Southern California Special Olympics. "There aren't that many sites that have everything so centralized. There are less expensive venues, but there's not a better package."

Various campus organizations have helped raise money for the games. The UCLA Police Department participated in a 1,200 mile, statewide law enforcement Torch Run which raised over $106,000 and will go directly to local Special Olympics programs throughout Southern California to fund training and buy uniforms for the athletes.

This 1996 Summer Games also included the first annual Ed O'Bannon Three-on-Three Celebrity Basketball Tournament, projected to raise more than $15,000. The tournament was designed "to allow the public to come out and do something to help raise money for Special Olympics," Ward said.

The Anderson School of Management was one of the largest on-campus groups to raise funds for Special Olympics. Management and students participated in the "MBA Challenge for Charity," a fundraising competition between college campuses across Southern California. UCLA, which raised $75,000 this year, is the unchallenged champion of the annual fundraiser, said Ward.

"We're very fortunate that lots of people are affected by the (Special Olympics) program and are willing to support it," Ward said.

GENEVIEVE LIANG

A Southern California Special Olympian accepts his gold medal after winning the 400-meter race in Drake Stadium. GENEVIEVE LIANG

A Special Olympics volunteer and an athlete unwind at the dance tent in Olympic Village, located outside Pauley Pavilion.

"Let me win; but if I cannot win let me be brave in the attempt."