The Crowd:

This past week the 2009 Southern California Special Olympics, fronted by Olympian Rafer JohnsonRafer Johnson, showcased the human spirit at its finest. There was cheering and there were tears as the athletes competed in a host of games. Winning wasn’t everything; just being a part of the program was enough.

But winning was, in fact, glorious. One father whose son took a first place in a swimming event sobbed uncontrollably unable to speak even one word. The Special Olympian came up to his dad, dripping water, smiling from ear to ear putting his winning wet arms around his father’s waist asking, “What’s wrong, Dad? I won the race!”

A month ago, dedicated Special Olympics donors in Orange County gathered with Johnson on a Sunday evening to raise funds in support of the big event this week. Chaired by Joann Waldron and Ticky Gorin, the evening at the Disneyland Hotel and Resort paid tribute to generous Newport patrons Mary and Walter Frome and Rick Mielke, Madeline Evans and Ryan Scobell. This seventh annual pre-Special Olympics event raised net proceeds of $163,000. During the evening guests also came forward donating $25,000 of the total net for a portion of the program called “Sponsor An Athlete” where sponsors gave $500 apiece to underwrite a Special Olympics athlete for two seasons. Fifty Orange County Special Olympians will benefit from this one gesture. Presently there are some 2,000 such athletes in Orange County.

The event began with a cocktail reception followed by the now traditional “Parade of Athletes” led by Johnson where both professional Olympians and Special Olympians enter the ballroom carrying American flags and banners. Johnson won the silver medal in 1956 in the decathlon and the gold in 1960. He co-founded Special Olympics Southern California in 1969 following the lead of national founders Eunice and Sargent Shriver.

Special O.C. Olympians included Debi Anderson, Joseph Gorin, Adam Hogan, Jessica Kelly, Thomas Peale, Tim Redmond, Ryan Scobell, Sara Thiel, Pete Waldron and Jay White.

Joining the proud athletes were a host of U.S. Olympians following the leader Johnson. Bob Price, Cliff Meidl, Eric Lindroth, and four-time gold medalist and former USC star John Naber were among those front and center. Also on hand were Mihai Bagiu, Amanda Freed, Frank Gorman, Allison Gregorka, Sherri Howard and Khadevis Robinson.

The recent competition featured 12 sports and more than 13,000 athletes backed up by 15,000 coaches and volunteers. To learn more go to www.sosc.org.

THE CROWD runs Thursdays and Saturdays.