Tuesday, 6/24/97 Athletes go for gold in Special Olympics CHALLENGE: Participants find pride, happiness in competition held at UCLA
By Chris Umpierre Daily Bruin Contributor Mashalleh and Jinous Nikkhah had every reason to fold up the proverbial tent. Mashalleh is not receiving any financial support from the government despite the facts: his daughter, Jinous, is mentally retarded, and he doesn't have a job. He doesn't get one dime from social security. She badly needs gum surgery but he cannot afford the expensive procedure, or a doctor for his own high blood pressure. His multi-million dollar factory in Persia was seized by the government after he immigrated to the United States. If not for Mashalleh's family in Persia sending money, they would be living on the street. But despite all the hardships life has brought them, the Nikkhahs haven't folded up their tent, and they refuse to do so. They symbolize the ability to strive amidst adversity that 1,299 other Special Olympians displayed in the pool, on the track, on the basketball court, on the golf course, in the gym and on the tennis court in the 29th annual Special Olympics Summer Games, held over the weekend at UCLA. Despite constantly having new obstacles and challenges thrown in front of her to overcome each day, the 28-year-old Jinous has been able to leap over each and every one. Literally. She took home 14 medals in this year's Games. She has also brought home a degree from Santa Monica College. One needs only to look in Mashalleh's proud and happy eyes as he looked at the array of medallions that hung from his daughter's neck to see that the Special Olympics is not only a worthy event but an important one. The Games brought joy and happiness to countless others this weekend. "I think the beauty of (the Special Olympics) is how it brings an entire family together," said Mona Dill, coordinator of the event's 1,593 volunteers. "If someone has a disabled child, sometimes they are living off in a home. But the Special Olympics is a community event where the friends and cousins and sisters and brothers all come together for a weekend to watch an athlete compete." The Special Olympics experience is not just important for the family but for the athlete as well. "I had one athlete who had just lost his parent to cancer, and the other parent has cancer as well," Dill added. "I asked him if he was scared about his family, and he just looked at me and said 'Special Olympics is my family.'" "For some of these athletes it's their first time away from home," Dill continued. "For some, just even walking from here to here is a huge, huge thing. Just to get on that bus to get here is the biggest accomplishment of their life." Other officials believed that the Special Olympics is a necessary event because it puts the mentally retarded in the spotlight. "It's no longer necessary for the mentally retarded to be hidden like the old days," Jeannie Heimberger said, who has worked the Athletic venue for the last 25 years. "These individuals can now be out in the public. The Special Olympics is an opportunity for them to be out in the public, showing that they too can succeed." "It gives them a chance to belong and to participate in something that famous or healthy athletes do," Dr. Jon Perry said, a founding member of the Games, who continues to be an active member on the Special Olympics board. "If you come out here and you don't have a little tug on your heart and a little tear or two in your eyes, you really haven't experienced it." People have indeed been shedding some tears since the Games' inception in 1968. Eunice Kennedy Shriver came up with the idea after asking herself why her mentally retarded child couldn't participate in the Olympics. So in Chicago in 1968, she not only had her child participate in the first ever Special Olympics, but 1,000 other mentally retarded athletes. Since then, Perry said, "something like 100 countries run a similar Special Olympics." Many celebrities came out to this year's games to show their support during the three-day event. Film star Michael Keaton was one of the featured speakers at the Opening Ceremony on Friday night. Other celebrities at the event included Hall of Fame NBA basketball player Bill Sharman, film star Diane Cannon, and TV game show announcer Mark Wahlberg. Many UCLA alumni and coaches were also at the Games. Rafer Johnson, UCLA track athlete and Olympic gold medalist, once again was the head organizer. He was on the founding board of the California games. Jim Bush, UCLA's Track and Field Coach from 1964 to 1984, was also in attendance. "I just told Rafer Johnson that I'll be tickled to death to show up," Bush said. "These people are very special. Just to see their faces when they cross the finish line is worth the price of gold. After coaching only great athletes, I finally get an opportunity to see these young people without that ability. It means just as much and maybe even more to them. That's what's important." Of the volunteers, many were current Bruins or UCLA alumni who came back to donate their time. The athletes "are very sincere and very open," said UCLA alumna Valeria Beaudry. "It's amazing to see how happy they are when you start talking with them." It is the athletes such as Jinous Nikkhah who teach valuable lessons that can last a lifetime. "For me it's just a matter of knowing that there's absolutely nothing you can't do," Dill said. " Those people just focus on the things that they can do. As long as I remember that, and I just do the games once a year, it's enough to carry myself through (each day)." CHARLES KUO/Daily Bruin Special Olympian Maria Olague is greeted by volunteer Sheila Liles after her finish in the 100-meter dash at the 29th-annual Special Olympics held at UCLA over the weekend. See back page GENEVIEVE LIANG/Daily Bruin Members of the South Bay and Riverside Special Olympics teams reach for a rebound at Pauley Pavilion Saturday. Previous Daily Bruin Stories Special Olympics provides 'training for life', June 24, 1996 UCLA hosts California Special Olympics, June 26, 1995