Special Olympics summer games reunite old friends, athletes look forward to next year

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Goodbyes are often bittersweet, and the closing ceremonies of the Special Olympics Michigan 2011 State Summer Games were no exception for many participants.

SOMI finished its competitions Saturday at CMU, but otherwise sad farewells were bookended with closing events including a water slide, games and other last-minute fun with new friends.

Area 19 athlete Kaderick Strait, of Jackson, relaxes in the net during a game of handball. Strait was playing goalie Friday for the Jackson Blues in CMU's Student Activity Center during the Special Olympics Michigan 2011 State Summer Games. (Amelia Eramya/Lead Designer)

Closing ceremonies took place Friday night with a performance from David Steffan, a Nebraska Special Olympics athlete and musician, as well as an end of the year victory dance.

“The dance was my favorite part, and the competitions,” said Pam Thinglum, an Escanaba athlete.

The dance was held at Kelly/Shorts Stadium at CMU.

“It is what the athletes especially look forward to,” said Mount Pleasant resident and SOMI volunteer Dana Taylor. “It is the highlight of their weekend.”

Many of the people who came together to make the games happen and those who competed joined hands, sang, and danced along to “We Are the World” at the closing ceremony.

“That song and the circle has always been my favorite part of the entire thing,” said Mount Pleasant resident and SOMI volunteer Terry Opperman. “It is everyone involved and it is a feeling that you cannot explain.”

Opperman said he enjoys the games because they offer a way for people to see each other.

He said many of the same volunteers and athletes come back to the games each year, which is one of the things he likes best about SOMI.

“I remember people who compete at the games,” Opperman said. “The other day I went into a McDonald’s nowhere around Mount Pleasant, and one of the athletes was working there. He remembered me and I remembered him. That to me is amazing, and why I volunteer at this event.”