Diocese sponsors Special Olympics event

By KATIE LEFEBVRE, Globe staff reporter
March 9, 2006

The Diocese of Sioux City sponsored the Special Olympics Iowa Basketball Clinic again this year with two sessions being held the morning of March 7 at the Tyson Events Center in Sioux City.

The college women's teams participating in the 15th Annual Division II Women's Basketball Championship kicked off the tournament by helping with the clinic and interacting with the Special Olympics athletes.

Father Dennis Meinen, a priest of the Diocese of Sioux City, was on hand to watch the athletes interact and play basketball together.

"The Diocese of Sioux City is sponsoring this because we want to have a preferential option for people who are poor and people who are disabled," said Father Meinen. "Part of our mission is to lift up people who are disabled, poor or unfortunate."

The clinic was split into two sessions with Special Olympics athletes from the Siouxland area and NAIA teams including hundreds of players and coaches in attendance.

"We see some of the kids that come back every year," said Father Meinen. "They are lifted up by the college athletes, but one thing that we don't expect is that they really have an affect on us, too. We need to lift them up and be lifted up by them."

According Jerry Headington, from Special Olympics Iowa, this is the seventh year that Special Olympics Iowa has participated in the clinic.

"The athletes just like the fact that, first of all, for a lot of them they are in the Tyson Center," said Headington. "For most of the people from Sioux City that is a big event in and of itself. They love basketball. You can see by all the smiles here, they just love the fact that these girls took the time to come work with them on basketball."

This event is a highlight of the tournament not only for the Special Olympics athletes but also for the NAIA players and coaches.

"The NAIA girls learn a little bit about what Special Olympics is all about," said Headington. "Our athletes respect that they come and help them out with these things."

During the clinic, the special athletes shoot hoops, pass the ball back and forth, run drills and finally have a relay race at the end. The relay race involves all the participants of the clinic at one time.

"I think the kids tell us, through their actions, that passion is important," said Father Meinen. "When I look at these kids, I think they really don't give up. It is like they are focused on doing good."