Louisiana: The State We're In; 642

Funding for the production of Louisiana: The State We're In is provided in part by the Zigler Foundation of Jennings; Gulf States Utilities, helping Louisiana bridge the gap to our energy future; and the Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corporation. Athletes from around the world came to Baton Rouge this week as Louisiana welcomed Special Olympians to the 1983 International Games. [Theme Music] [Theme Music] [Theme Music] Welcome to this edition of Louisiana: The State We're In. I'm Beth George and we have a very special

program for you this week. We are here at the site of the International Special Olympics on the campus of Louisiana State University. Special athletes from around the world have come here for competition and camaraderie, and they have found both. From the dramatic opening ceremony to the individual stories of personal courage and triumph, this has been a very special event for Louisiana. Reporters Robyn Ekings and David Young will share with you some of the moments that have touched the hearts of all those who have participated. The torch of the legendary Olympiad of Greece was symbolically carried to Louisiana this week as the eyes of the world focused on Baton Rouge at the opening of the sixth International Summer Special Olympic Games at LSU. [music and cheering] Representatives of 49 nations and all of America's states and territories marched

proudly into Louisiana alongside former Olympic greats and celebrities from the fields of sport, politics and, of course, from the world of entertainment. The stage was set for a spectacular opening ceremony. Setting the stage for this Olympic spectacle, however, was not such an easy task. Even as the delegations began arriving, workmen were busy putting the final touches on the Olympic Village and on Tiger Stadium for the opening event. After three years of work by over 7,000 volunteers and a $2.5 million investment, Louisiana had opened its hearts and its pocketbooks to play host to these Special Olympics. Thank you so much for coming! We appreciate it. Governor Dave Treen was in the Special Olympic spirit as he hosted a welcoming reception for former ambassador Sargent and Mrs. Eunice Kennedy Shriver who is recognized as the spirit of the Special Olympics movement.

And many of the celebrities in town for the event joined the dignitaries at the mansion. The special guests meanwhile were busy making new friends and getting adjusted to the heat as they prepared to compete in the various athletic events. The first Special Olympic Games were held in 1968 as an outlet for the mentally handicapped who previously, for the most part, had been shut in. The games have grown in size and scope, and they are already apparently deeply embedded into the fabric of all America and many nations, including two of Communist rule around the globe. Louisiana embraced the Special Olympics after being awarded the bid. And finally, with a great deal of pride, everything was in place including a crowd of over 60,000 people when the International Games were set to begin. [crowd noise] [Marching Band]

No sporting event can begin on a good note without a little spirit from the band. And for this joyous occasion, there was a wide variety of music and lots of it to get the huge crowd into the mood for the parade of states and nations. [Bag pipes] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music]

[Music and Applause] Over 4,000 special athletes soon began the short trip around the football field that they will not soon forget, with former pro and TV personality Frank Gifford announcing each delegation. And from the ancient home of the Olympic Games, the delegation from Greece led by Counsel General Papadapolis. And now Argentina led by 1976 Olympic Decathlon champion and head coach for Special Olympics Track and Field Bruce Jenner! The delegation from the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago led by world record holder in the long jump, gold medalist from 1968 Mexico City, Bob Beemon. The United Kingdom. The United Kingdom delegation led by John Hancock, a

former Olympic gymnast... From Alabama, led by television personality and commentator PM Magazine, Maria Shriver. Now, the delegation from Delaware, led by humorist, bon vivant, tennis star and great friend of the Special Olympics, Art Buchwald. [Crowd noise] [Crowd noise] Ohio, the delegation from Ohio led by [inaudible] representing Proctor and Gamble.

[Crowd noise] The delegation of Louisiana, led by Willie Davenport, four-time Olympian [Crowd noise] Senator J. Bennett Johnson; Senator Russell Long; Representative Henson Moore; Dr. Raymond Arveson, superintendent of East Baton Rouge Parish Schools; Mike McCreary, president East Baton Rouge Parish School Board; Dr. Press Robinson, East Baton Rouge School Board; Miss Louisiana 1983, and Ron Guidry, New York Yankees. The delegation from Louisiana.

[Music] [Singing] [Singing] [Singing] [Singing] Those of you from Louisiana know that when the LSU Tigers come into the stadium it is known as Death Valley. [Cheers] But tonight, this stadium is Life Valley as we gather to celebrate the joy of life and all that is good in man. I think there is one thing that we all must agree on tonight. Let me hear your answer.

Is the greatest hospitality in all of America right here at LSU? [Cheering] And I might add, "Where are the greatest athletes?" and I say to you, Los Angeles, watch out for us. Where are the greatest athletes in America tonight? Are they at LSU? [Applause] This is an unforgettable evening. Well, I want to sing you one song tonight. And I think it's probably the most appropriate one that I could possibly sing. Now I just want to sing it with a heart full of love for all of you. [music and singing] Special Olympics officials as well as

members of the world press expressed amazement at the lengths the state and its people had gone to to host the games. Mrs. Shriver said later it was like her personal dream had finally come true in Baton Rouge. So, too, had dreams come true for many of the thousands. In fact almost everyone attending from around the world will always have the memory of the Louisiana Special Olympic games and playing a part in a genuine labor of love. Part of a world that seeks only to glorify those who need it the most and where winning truly isn't everything. In fact, it was a world of winners. And a world that history will remember as the Special Olympians of 1983. Don [inaudible] Propolus fittingly from Greece. Australia's Paul Williams, now accepting the torch. Paul Williams from Australia,

the torch being relayed to Baton Rouge's own Freddie Lee, who will take the torch on the last leg of this journey. And so it is my pleasure and privilege to now officially announce the 1983 International Special Olympic Games are hereby opened. Good luck, Special Olympians. [Cheering] Opening Ceremonies found one member of Louisiana's team far above the crowd. Baton Rougean Dean Wilton proudly accepted the honor of raising the official flag for the games.

Hopes of gold and Special Olympic glamour had powered the 21-year-old swimmer through months of training. Dean likes competition and especially the Olympics. Dean kind of feels like that the International Olympics are being put on just for Dean because he just loves to compete in swimming. Dean was never the type of child who could play football or play baseball or basketball, any of those games. And so I think that Dean was able to swim and this was encouraging and I really think this is why we put a swimming pool in was because Dean could do this and he didn't have to have other people to do it with. He could do it by himself. Swimming may be a solitary sport, but the task of putting together a group to represent Louisiana was definitely a team effort. Dean joined more than 350 athletes representing our state in Hammond the weekend before the

Games for some extra coaching and last-minute pointers. The Louisiana delegation has 352 athletes and about 95 coaches and they come from all parts of Louisiana. And a lot of the coaches and a lot of the athletes really do not know each other, and we have a, really a two-fold purpose. One is to is for socializing so that everyone gets to know everybody else and we feel as though we are Louisiana Special Olympics and not a Louisiana Special Olympics team from Shreveport or New Orleans or Baton Rouge or Hammond -- that we are a Louisiana Special Olympics team. And the second one is to hone up on those last skills that last weekend so when we get to Baton Rouge on Monday and Tuesday and start competing on Wednesday that our skills have been sharpened. [Natural sound] I've been working with Dean for the past five years in swimming. We use the YMCA

pool and we swim once a week. And also he's had a lot of exposure to swimming from his family and I understand he has a backyard swimming pool. What kind of a swimmer is he? Dean is a strong, strong athlete. He's a strong swimmer and he enjoys the water. He's able to swim 25 yards and it doesn't faze him. Is it important to compete or is it important to win? It's important to participate. I'm not sure if they even understand winning, you know, because they always get a medal or ribbon. They get something: a T-shirt, a hat, a new friend. So that's what it's all about. On your mark, get set. [Whistle is blown] Local experts weren't the only ones giving pointers to Special Olympians this week. Olympic medal winner swimmer John Naber was one of many celebrities helping athletes get the competitive edge.

The underlying philosophy of the Special Olympics is very much akin to what I believe, in that you are a champion in your attempt. It's not the victory alone, but in the effort and the desire to excel. Swimming is a clear measurement of that in that you don't have to win, you just have to beat your own personal best or improve your time on the stopwatch. And on that level the Special Olympics lets everyone be a winner the moment they step onto the starting blocks. On your marks, get set. At some points during the competition this week, it seemed that high temperatures might put a damper on high spirits. But even mercury hitting the mid 90s couldn't take the edge off the enthusiasm of competitors and spectators alike. [Crowd noise] I think spectators at the Special Olympics probably gain as much, if not more, than what the kids are actually doing there on the, on the field. Well, I think it

immediately puts them, makes their attitude a little bit different towards the mentally retarded because they see what they can do. They're not looking at their bad side or feeling sorry for them. They're looking at their good side and seeing what they can do for each other, and that is so important. And I think anybody who ever comes to a Special Olympics is hooked. I mean they, they just keep continually come back. Athletes seem to be something that people see results in. You know, you could work for years with people and you don't results. But I think Mrs. Shriver's idea to use sports as a way of showing the handicapped can help themselves is really a sensational one. And as you go along and you've seen so far these kids here and the people who get involved with them are very competitive. And but they're running for their lives, not just for a medal.

All right. It wasn't all work for the athletes. Between events and practice, they were free to work off whatever energy they might have left in the Olympic Village from dunking to dancing. Dean Wilton was one athlete who had no trouble making time for recreation. [Music]

[Music] Charlie, where are you from? Houston, Texas. Are you having a good time here? Yes ma'am. I'm meeting all the new friends I'd like to meet. Okay. You have a list of names here. What are you going to do with this list of names that you have here? I'm going to write them, write them, maybe write them and maybe I can send them a Christmas card and write them a lot. [Music] [Music]

It's hard work being a clown. And there was plenty of time to meet with those who've already made their mark in the sports world from LSU football coach Jerry Stovall to weightlifter Arnold Schwarzenegger. I come here simply to inspire the kids because they look up to us athletes or actors or whoever celebrities were here. And they feel, you know, they feel good when we are here and support them and inspire them and give them positive reinforcement and hug them and just be available. I first became involved with the Special Olympics back in 1968. I had some misgivings about how I would be able to be a part of it and frankly concerned. I'd never been around anyone really retarded and since that I think not only my perception has changed about the world of retardation, but everyone's perception of it has changed dramatically. These athletes from all over the world, really, have found a new world and

this is as much their world as ours. Throughout it all, the winning continued. Forty-one to forty. You won your basketball game this morning. Are you happy? Yes. Was it a tough game? Yes, it is tough. [Applause] For Dean

Wilton, his time to win was drawing near. His first event, the 25 meter freestyle. [Music] [Music] All we want Dean to do is to go over and participate in all the events that they have over there and just have a real fun time. This is what we're looking forward to. If Dean wins some medals, that'll be

wonderful for Dean to add to his collection. But if he doesn't, Dean will have had a wonderful time. With only tenths of a second separating the competitors, a proud seventh place was just fine. [Music] [Music] [Music]

[Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] Louisiana can truly be proud of its role in the Special Olympics. There are some events that bring

out the best in all of us, but rarely have we seen such a visible display of commitment from an entire community. If we can share the joy and dedication the Special Olympians have shown us this week in Louisiana all year long, we will be better for it. Thank you for joining us on this week's program. We'll see you again next week. I'm Beth George. Goodbye from the International Special Olympics. [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music]

Funding for the production of Louisiana: The State We're In is provided in part by the Zigler Foundation of Jennings; Gulf States Utilities, helping Louisiana bridge the gap to our energy future; and the Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corporation.