Kiwanis Special Games XXXII

DeAnza College, Friday, May 21, 2010

Key Links ...

Teachers & Athletes -- NEW!! ON-LINE REGISTRATION !!

Kiwanis Clubs & Volunteers -- DOWNLOAD PAGE

Bus Managers -- BUS MANAGEMENT schematic

Help The Games continue -- DONATE to the Games

Previous Games -- NEWS, pictures, more

Contact (Also Lost & Found!) -- SGInfo@LosAltosKiwanis.Org

See a 3-minute clip of the Games -- on YouTube

Lt. Gov. Mike Akana Interview!!! -- on YouTube

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Kiwanis Special Games

Presented by the Kiwanis Clubs of CalNevHa Divisions 12 & 34, managed by:

The Los Altos Kiwanis Club -- organization and operation

The DeAnza Kiwanis Club -- equipment and venue

Remembering Walter Chronert, 1919-2007, Founder of the Kiwanis Special Games

The Kiwanis Special Games were created to address the physical and emotional needs of the substantial number of very challenged children in the schools of our region. More broadly known programs like the Special Olympics presume a rather high level of function. The Special Games exclude no one. This is the one day in the year when these youngsters are special, they are athletes, and at the center of attention through positive achievement. For many of these kids, the Special Games is their favorite day of the year.

The first Kiwanis Special Games were played on March 29, 1979 on the Foothill College Fields. The Games were organized by Los Altos Kiwanian Walter D. Chronert, and Betty Fairchild and Sue Carr Katra, Adaptive PE teachers.

The Games were a great success, and the three founders immediately decided to make this an annual event. Under Chronert's leadership, the Games grew, and before long the Los Altos club could no longer undertake the whole event on its own, so they invited all of the Kiwanis clubs of Division 34 to join them. The games became a division-wide project, with all clubs contributing volunteers and funds for the purchase of equipment, T-Shirts, ribbons, and other expenses. For the past four years the Games have been supported by a delegation of Kiwanians from Division 12.

On the day of the Games, about 120 buses deliver approximately 800 athletes from 60 schools. The Games begin with a formal opening ceremony and Parade of Athletes. Each athlete is placed in a group with similar abilities, and four events appropriate to those abilities are chosen for each group. That way each child competes on a level field with their peers. The events are tailored to fit the limitations these athletes, ranging from the 100 yard dash, to dropping a bean bag on a target by signaling a volunteer who actually drops the bag. Every athlete is presented a T-shirt and a participant ribbon, and game winners are awarded first, second, and third and “best effort” place ribbons. About 4,000 ribbons are given out. After the games, all athletes reassemble with their schools, and relive the adventures of the morning while eating a picnic lunch.

Special Games XXXII. The 2010 the Games will be held on Friday, May 21, from 8:00 AM to 1:30 PM, at the DeAnza College track. The Games will be run by about 250 Kiwanians, 300 Kiwanis student volunteers, and over 1,000 school and community volunteers.

Gayle Joslin, Schools Coordinator; Tom Beggs, DeAnza College Coordinator; Peter Bergsman & Tad Curtis, Kiwanis coordinators

-- www.k-sg.org -- 1-27-2010