Salve Regina Hosts East Bay Special Olympics at Rogers High School This Saturday

n 1981, student Raye Dankiewicz helped start the East Bay chapter of Rhode Island Special Olympics. Every year since then, the university has supported the cause by hosting the

The East Bay games are held in each year in April in order to help athletes prepare for the Rhode Island Special Olympics games that take place at URI in June. More than 100 athletes, from high schools and communities across the state,  are expected to participate in this year's East Bay games, which take place on Saturday at the track. 

"We have nearly 100 students that get involved every year, and we've been doing it for 30 years now," said Matt Boxler of the University Relations office. "There are a variety of jobs surrounding the event, whether it's to publicize it, or to help put together the Olympic Town. Some volunteers are 'huggers,' who hug the kids as they finish their events."

Aside from the athletes and volunteers, the families of the athletes are also on hand to support their loved ones, creating what Boxler describes as a "very spirited event." 

Sister Jane Gerety, President of Salve Regina University, will be speaking at the day's opening ceremonies, which are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. The ceremonies also include a torch lighting and a procession onto the track.

The opening ceremonies be followed by a series of competitions that include running, walking, and wheelchair races, softball and shot put throws, and running and standing long jumps. The competition ends at 3:15 p.m. followed by closing ceremonies at 3:30 p.m.

This year's games are being held in honor of Alyssa Acquafredda, a 2008 Salve graduate, who died of cancer on March 23.  While at the University, she was a Special Olympics volunteer for four years and she served as Games Director in her senior year.

Michelle Carroll, a Salve student, is the Assistant Director of the East Bay games. "It's a really fun day. It's all run by Salve students with the support of RI Special Olympics," she said.

In addition to the events on the track, volunteers have created an Olympic Town area that includes vendors and DJs. Face painting is one of the Olympic Town's most popular attractions.

"Olympic Town is created by various student organizations. They each do an arts and crafts type thing and the athletes get to go over and make a free craft," Carroll said. "Ben and Jerry's will be there providing free ice cream for the athletes. So it's a time for the athletes to hang out and have fun when they're not participating in their particular sport."

For Carroll, her involvement in the event is personal.

"I've been pretty involved with the community of people with disabilities. Special Olympics provides great opportunities for them, especially with medical care for people who might not have access to health care, and employment," she said. "It's a great organization that brings the worlds of people with disabilities and people without together. As a future special educator, my goal is to keep it inclusive, and to really learn and grow with each other."