'I saw a lot of smiles'

POTSDAM — The sounds of joy mixed with the patter of bouncing balls and running feet Saturday as more than 50 Special Olympians honed their skills at Clarkson University's Alumni Gym.

"I love it. He does too," Joan Sather, St. Regis Falls, said as she watched her 38-year-old son, Ernest Francis, participate in a spirited basketball shoot-around during the Special Olympics Community Awareness Day at the university.

Special Olympics has been a part of her developmentally disabled son's life since his teens, said Mrs. Sather.

"He has been involved for 20 years at least. He lives on Elm Street in Malone and plays basketball in the men's league," said Mrs. Sather. "The best part of this is they get to play for years and years."

Saturday's event, which involved volunteers from Clarkson's swim team, its women's hockey team and men's basketball team, was sponsored by the university's Student Athletics Advisory Committee.

"We did this event for the first time last year. It has gotten a lot bigger," said Thomas J. Manzo, a Clarkson student from Liverpool who was president of the advisory committee last year.

Helping to organize the awareness day has special meaning to him, said Mr. Manzo, a mechanical engineering student and captain of Clarkson's swim team.

"My sister has Down syndrome. My family has been very involved with Special Olympics since she was little," he said.

Elizabeth M. Manzo, 19, is a high school student in Liverpool and a member of the school's varsity swim team.

"She's not a front-line swimmer," said Jeffrey J. Manzo, their father. "But Special Olympics opened up an opportunity for her that eventually enabled her to do everything they do. It's fantastic. It gives them an opportunity they would never have."

The elder Mr. Manzo coaches the Syracuse-area Special Olympics basketball team, which traveled Saturday to Potsdam to test their skills against their north country counterparts.

The Community Awareness Day is one of a series of events sponsored by Special Olympics throughout the year, said Martha C. Bowen, area coordinator, Malone.

"We wanted to bring in people who were not familiar with Special Olympics and show them what Special Olympics is about," she said.

Saturday's skills sessions attracted 10 to 12 new participants, Ms. Bowen said. Overall, the organization averages 350 to 400 participants annually. The program is open to anyone with a developmental disability who is 8 or older.

The regional organizations depend on volunteers, many of whom come from service organizations like the Elks, Lions and Kiwanis clubs, and local fundraisers, including raffles and contribution jars posted at area businesses, said Ms. Bowen.

In the north country, Special Olympics has 200 to 250 volunteers, she said.

SUNY Potsdam will host the organization's annual Summer Games on May 10. Successful athletes can go on to regional, statewide and national competition.

"We have had athletes go on to international games," said Ms. Bowen.

The growing success of the Community Awareness Day means it is likely to continue, said Johan H. Dulfer, Student Athletics Advisory Committee adviser and Clarkson volleyball coach.

"I think people had a good time. I saw a lot of smiles. It is a lot of fun for student athletes as well. If we can do it on an annual basis, it will be great," Mr. Dulfer said.