Cherokee hosts Special Olympics - Eastern Band of Cherokee

SPORTS di-ne-lv-di-yiSPORTS di-ne-lv-di-yiQualla Boundary Special Olympics Program hosts thear West Spring Games for the second year in a row.incredibleathletesBySCOTT MCKIE B.P.ONE FEATHER STAFF“Let me win. But, if I cannot win, letme be brave in the attempt.” Thosewords echoed through the mountainsfrom the loud speaker at theold Cherokee High School track onFriday, May 6 as Tony Wolfe,member of the QuallaBoundary SpecialOlympics program,recited the SpecialOlympics Athlete’sOath to oficiallyopen the Far WestSpring Games.Qualla Boundary athlete Jacee Smith competes in the 800M run during Friday’s games.SCOTT MCKIE B.P./One Feather photosTony Wolfe recites theSpecial Olympics oath.For the second year in arow, the Qualla Boundaryprogram hosted the eventwhich drew around 250 athletesfrom various programs including:Graham County, Clay County,Macon County and CherokeeCounty."We are excited to havesuch a great turnout for thegames today,” Lana Lambert,Qualla Boundary program coordinatorsaid on Friday.“Today is all about the athletes and theircompetition and recognition. I hopeeveryone has a happy spring games."A torch run, consisting of membersof various area law enforcementagencies along with volunteers and athletes,began on US441 earlier in the morningand winded through the streets ofCherokee culminating in the stadium.Principal Chief Michell Hicks carriedthe torch into the stadium and lit theoficial lame marking the beginning ofthe games which was immediately followedby the invocation by Qualla Boundaryathlete Dakota West, the posting ofthe colors by the Cherokee High SchoolJROTC Color Guard and Wolfe’s recitationof the oath.“Tony, thank you for your leadership,”Chief Hicks said to the crowd inpraise of Wolfe’s accomplishments. “Weappreciate everything that you do.”The Cherokee Elementary SchoolTraditional Singers then recited the“Pledge of Allegiance” and sang “GodBless America”, both rendered in theCherokee language.Jon Jon Grant, a local traditionaland pow wow singer, performed a handdrum song he composed honoring thespecial needs community.Sponsors for the event included:Gold Level – Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians,Harrah’s Cherokee Casino & Hotel;Silver Level – Walmart, Cherokee HistoricalAssociation, Glenville-Cashier RescueSquad; Bronze Level – First Citizens Bank,Cherokee Enterprises Inc.; Friends of SpecialOlympics Qualla Boundary – CherokeeCentral Schools, Tuckaseegee TradingCompany, Kimlyn Lambert, The AcquoniBaptist Chapel, Guayabitos of Bryson City,Yona Wade, Cherokee Bottled Water, CustomTruck Covers, Wellspring FamilyPractice, Wolf Creek Baptist Chapel, GatewayFactory Homes, Macon Bank, Santa’sLand, Promise Land Baptist Church, TanglesHair Salon, Discount Grocery, Donand Joyce Bowman, and Dr. Don Russell.14cherokee one featherTHURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2011cherokee one feather15