Special Olympics ignites community spirit

Cowbells are to ski races what tailgating is to football — where there's one, you'll likely find the other.

So when Karen Kimball of Montana Special Olympics (MTSO) set out to organize this year's winter games, she knew the addition of clanging bells as athletes skied by would be essential for creating an Olympic atmosphere, especially on the tails of the world-wide games in Vancouver, Canada.

And with the community spirit this annual event ignites across the Flathead Valley, rounding up a few cowbells shouldn't pose much of a problem.

"I thought, 'Wouldn't it be neat to have cowbells,'" Kimball said. "So I contacted Murdoch's (ranch supply store in Kalispell) and bing, we had cowbells just like that."

Murdoch's donated 25 cowbells that will be handed out to volunteers along each of the Special Olympic's alpine race courses at Whitefish Mountain Resort.

"So many businesses give Montana Special Olympics so much," she said. "It's really amazing. I can only imagine that the special athletes will be watching the Olympics (in Vancouver) and will hear those world-famous cowbells on the downhill ski runs. Then when they hear those same bells here — wow!"

The donation from Murdoch's is just one example of how dozens of businesses and hundreds of volunteers come together every winter to pull off the MTSO winter games, slated for Feb. 28 to Mar. 2 on Big Mountain.

Eisinger Motors chips in by providing vehicles to use in the opening-ceremony parade, Wal-Mart sends over employees to help put on a carnival and dance for the athletes, and Whitefish Mountain Resort provides what might be most crucial — the snow-covered terrain.

"Big Mountain turns over the mountain to us," Kimball said. "And they don't just do it, they do it with joy. They always tell me it's one of the most fun things they do all year."

Josh Knight, events manager at the resort, echoes that thought and says the crewmembers who help organize and set up each event walk away with their spirits lifted by the athletes.

"Each of us takes away special memories that highlight our busy winter season," he said. (MTSO) does a great job bringing in hundreds of athletes, working with coaches, local businesses and the community to create an event that is much farther reaching than only on-snow achievement. It is a collaborative effort that is always fun and incredibly rewarding."

Local schools get involved, too. Through the Adopt-a-Team initiative, classrooms across the valley have embraced MTSO teams they will support throughout the games. The students write letters to the athletes and bring banners and cheers of encouragement to each of the events.

Then there are the volunteers, hundreds of them, who work the parade route, fill goody bags for the athletes and assist with timing the events — each being a vital cog to helping the games happen.

"It's like a big symphony," Kimball said. "Everyone chips in, and we have beautiful music."

To enhance that idea of community involvement, MTSO recently moved the opening ceremony from the resort's village to downtown Whitefish.

"We've been putting on the games for 15 years, and up until last year, the opening ceremony was at the mountain," Kimball said. "It was great, but it was also hard for families to participate. We decided to bring it down to the valley and get more community involvement."

A parade of athletes, including local law enforcement, resort ambassadors and Whitefish Winter Carnival royalty, will take place Sunday, Feb. 4, from 4 to 5 p.m. University of Montana's mascot, Monte, will be on hand during the parade for photos. Following the parade, musical guest Fresh Ink will perform at Depot Park.

To learn more about volunteering at the parade, opening ceremony or the competitions, contact Karen Kimball at 837-0319.