JBER hosts annual Special Olympics bowling tournament

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Ty-Rico Lea
  • JBER Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska --  JBER volunteers hosted the 9th Annual Special Olympics Bowling Tournament at the Polar Bowl on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Nov. 22 through 24. New competitors and returning athletes attended the base-sponsored event, which featured dozens of family and friends in attendance to cheer on the participants.

Competitors in the tournament came from all around Alaska, from as close as Anchorage and Matanuska-Susitna Valley to as far away as Fairbanks and Juneau. Athletes from Kodiak, Palmer and central Kenai Peninsula were unable to make it due to hazardous road conditions brought on by freezing rain.

Volunteer Soldiers and Airmen from various squadrons and units around the installation and students from the University of Anchorage Alaska provided score keeping and morale support throughout the tournament.

"We're all here to help and try to cooperate as much as we can," said Pfc. Omar Leiva, a 725th Brigade Support Battalion (Airborne) light-wheeled vehicle mechanic. "Our unit is always focused on trying to do as much volunteer work as we can."
Other units on JBER also believe in consistently supporting the athletic competition.

"I love Special Olympics; I've been volunteering for 14 years," Tech. Sgt. Elizabeth Warren, 673d Logistics Readiness Squadron fuels distribution supervisor. "I'm a part of the tournament organizing committee and I will be helping with awards today, so it is my job and job of others to make sure that right people get the right awards and that everyone gets recognized for their awesomeness."

Throughout the weekend, 300 volunteers gave their time as lane monitors, pit monitors, awards presenters, medics, food servers, transportation escorts and bus drivers and more.
A total of 161 participants were in attendance for the event, to include Special Olympics competitors and their partners. Partners are individuals without special needs who compete alongside Special Olympic athletes.

"The event helps break down stereotypes and focus on one's natural human abilities," said Jim Balamaci, president and CEO of Alaska's Special Olympics Organization.

Balamaci also said family members, sponsors, athletes and management are interacting at the best level it has ever been. He said everyone involved took the time to implement changes and promote growth in key areas that will eventually enable them to become the best Special Olympics program in the United States of America.

The atmosphere of camaraderie among bowlers was present from the beginning of the day all the way to the final frame and beyond. However, during the tournament the athletes challenged each other's skills and set the stage for a successfully high-spirited event which has been known to turn first-time participants into repeat visitors at JBER.

"I wanted the competition," said Jack Zacko, Special Olympics bowler who traveled from Fairbanks. "I participated in the tournament four times and this'll be my fifth."

At the end of the tournament, Col. Brian Duffy, JBER commander, presented awards to the participants and partners.

Duffy thanked the family members, athletes, and volunteers for helping to make this year's event a success. He said he hoped to have JBER host the event every year into the foreseeable future.