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The Special Olympics Bring Joy to Foxborough High School Athletes

Four Foxborough High School athletes share their experiences from the Special Olympics at North Attleboro, May 24.

The 23rd annual Attleboro Special Olympics School Day Games were held in North Attleboro on Tuesday, May 24, at the Raymond E. Beaupre Field. There more than 620 Special Olympic athletes there, from towns including, Attleboro, Easton, Foxborough, Franklin, Mansfield, Medfield, North Attleboro, Norton, Plainville, Reholboth, and Wrentham. 

At the start of the event, athletes were led by police motorcycles and officers and ascended onto to the track with pride. From there, the Special Olympic oath was pledged: "Let me win. But if I can not win, let me be brave in attempt." And, so it began.

In the crowd of athletes were ten students from Foxborough High School. Annie Watson, Christian Flanders, Ian Adams, and Stanley Ogunedo are four Foxborough students who are happy and proud to share their experience:

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"My name is Annie Watson. I am 16 years old. I won two gold medals at the Special Olympics. I ran the 400 meter dash and threw the javelin. I had fun. I can't wait for next year. "

"I love to run and jump at the Special Olympics. It was fun. I am Christian Flanders."

"My name is Ian Adams and I competed in the Special Olympics in North Attleboro on Tuesday May 24, 2011. I won a silver medal in the javelin throw and another silver in the 400 meter dash. I had a lot of fun and will go again next year to the Special Olympics."

"My name is Stanley Ogunedo. I am 16 years old. I ran the 400 meter dash and threw the javelin. I won gold and silver medals. I had fun because I love to run. I will do Special Olympics next year."

The athletes seemed to all use the word "fun," when describing their experience. If every athlete took such a strong perspective on competition, there would be no need for winners or losers. These athletes competed for the "fun" of it, and were certainly "brave in attempt" to win. But medals or not, these athletes compete for the joy of it. Ian, Annie, Christian, and Stanley all plan on competing again next year, which only further proves how wonderful the Special Olympics are.

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