By Amy Anderson
Let me win. But if not, let me be brave in the attempt.
This is the oath of every athlete who participated in the 2004 Special Olympics Utah.
Spectators, coaches and athletes felt that bravery Saturday as the Special Olympics Utah ended while hundreds of people celebrated together at the closing ceremony in the Smith Fieldhouse.
'I had so much fun,' said athlete Chris Briseno from Layton.
Briseno encouraged people to, 'remember the hope, have good attitude, and you are out to have a good time.'
The athletes definitely showed their good time and camaraderie at the ceremony when their cheers for each other echoed throughout the Fieldhouse.
A great feeling of love for each other filled the auditorium when athletes watched a slide show of the events.
'It''s the best thing in the world!' said Bob Dowrymple, winner of 300 gold medals and the only athlete turned coach of the Special Olympics.
As the athletes participated in track and field, soccer, T-ball and other sports there was a real sense of positive sportsmanship.
Tara Spinden, an athlete from Ogden, cried when she thought of all the friends she meets here both among the athletes and the volunteers.
'Doesn''t matter what place you get,' Spinden said.
To the music of 'Who let the dogs out', the Utah Jazz Dunk team performed to a crowd of athletes screaming, 'Who, who.' Athletes enjoyed watching and playing with the Utah Jazz Dunk team during the ceremony.
'It''s the pure sense of athlete,' said Dave Eberhard, a member of the Utah Jazz Dunk team from Boston. 'They show the real reason of sports.'
Fields Moseley from KUTV 2 News was grateful for the opportunity to emcee the event.
'This is the Special Olympics,' Moseley said. 'If you''re looking for world-class athletes, that''s not what you''re going to find. You''re finding something far more important in many respects. The camaraderie here is great. The feeling of success here is genuine.'
The Special Olympics gave many people the opportunity to share of their talents and to learn from others.
'I''ve never been around Special Olympics before,' said Jamie, friend of the Dowrymple family. 'It''s different; I don''t really know how to act. Everyone treats the kids differently. A lot of people are nicer to them, others treat them like normal. I just kind of watch. Seeing the Special Olympics has helped me learn how treat them and helped me to know what kind of lifestyle there is. I think a lot of people don''t know about this kind of stuff.'
Henry Butters from FTC Northern Thunder of Ogden retired the flame ending the 2004 Summer Special Olympics. The flame will be relit October 17 at the University of Utah. Volunteers and spectators are encouraged to come and join in the spirit and fun of the games.