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Thursday, April 13, 2000; 1 p.m. EDT

The second part of our weeklong conversation about volunteering focuses on Special Olympics, Inc., a worldwide organization that brings sports training and competition to more than one million mentally retarded children and adults. Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, who organized the First International Special Olympics Games at Chicago's Soldier Field, millions of retarded children and adults have participated since – in more than 150 countries. Specific Special Olympics programs coordinate sports curricula in public school districts and organize events and competitions through community recreation centers, group homes and institutions.

Special Olympics' stated goal is to give mentally retarded individuals a chance to be productive and participate in athletic competition, and athletes benefit not only physically but through friendships and greater self-confidence. Volunteers are always needed as coaches, officials and organizers. Spokesperson Kirsten Suto joined "Free Media" to talk about Special Olympics and what's involved in volunteering on Thursday, April 13. The transcript follows:

Free Media: Good afternoon, Kirsten, and welcome. What do most Special Olympics volunteers do – are they coaches or organizers, or is administrative help needed?

Kirsten Suto, Special Olympics: Special Olympics volunteers help athletes in a variety of ways. They coach, they organize events, they help with administrative needs. The beauty of volunteering for so is that you can do it for one day – one day a week, one day a month – the time frame is really up to the volunteer.

Washington, D.C.: Do I need to go to an orientation to be an event-day coach?

Kirsten Suto, Special Olympics: Before each Special Olympics event, Special Olympics programs conduct volunteer orientations and provide volunteer handbooks so that volunteers are comfortable in the opportunity they chose.

Arlington, Va.: I would love to volunteer, but I work very long hours and an erratic schedule – I'm rarely sure in advance how much free time I'll have on the weekends. Are there short-term or one-day opportunities for me to get involved?

Kirsten Suto, Special Olympics: Special Olympics offers a wide variety of volunteer opportunities and. There are local competitions that are in need of day-of volunteers who can sign up as late as the morning of the event. Often, local programs are in need of help with mailings and other administrative tasks that could be brought home and worked at at your own pace.

Washington, D.C.: Just curious – why the focus on sports? I imagine it has roots in the Kennedy family and the emphasis on competition, but I was just wondering why sports and not, say, art or music.

BTW, I think your organization does great work.

Kirsten Suto, Special Olympics: Eunice Kennedy Shriver founded Special Olympics in 1968 because she passionately believed that persons with mental retardation, young and old, could take part in and benefit from competitive sports. She felt certain that the lessons learned through sports would translate into competence and success in school, in the workplace, and in the community.

Today, her beliefs have been proven true. Special Olympics is the world's largest program of sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with mental retardation. More than 1.2 million athletes in over 160 countries benefit from the movement.

Great Neck, N.Y.: How many of your volunteers are students and young people, and how many are older people or retirees? Where does most of your volunteer recruitment come from?

Kirsten Suto, Special Olympics: Throughout the world, our volunteers vary in age. Our volunteers include students, senior citizens, business people, family members of athletes, amateur and professional athletes and coaches, teachers and many others. Volunteer recruitment happens at the grassroots level of Special Olympics where citizens volunteer to help the athletes in their community.

Arlington, Va.: How often do you hold the worldwide Special Olympics competitions?

Kirsten Suto, Special Olympics: The Special Olympics World Games, Winter and Summer, happen every four years. 2001 the Special Olympics World Winter Games will take place in Anchorage, Alaska. The 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games will be hosted by Ireland.

Bethesda, Md.: What does an athlete have to do to join and participate in Special Olympics?

Kirsten Suto, Special Olympics: To join Special Olympics, just call your local Special Olympics office. A list of Special Olympics Programs and contact information can be found at our web site at www.specialolympics.org

Rockville, Md.: How can I start a Special Olympics chapter?

Kirsten Suto, Special Olympics: To start a local Special Olympics training program or to find out the closest training program to you, call your state Special Olympics Program Office. Their number can be found at our Web site at www.specialolympics.org.

Akron, Ohio: Do many churches and faith-based organizations sponsor Special Olympics chapters and/or teams?

Kirsten Suto, Special Olympics: Throughout the world, Special Olympics is supported by many different organizations including churches and faith-based organizations. Often, these organizations will volunteer for events as a group or take on fund raising projects to help local Special Olympics athletes.

Washington, D.C.: Do volunteers from the U.S. go overseas to help with Special Olympics programs, or are volunteers recruited locally?

Kirsten Suto, Special Olympics: Often, volunteers are recruited locally, but I have heard of people paying their own way and taking vacation time to volunteer for Special Olympics World Games events.

Special Olympics is involved in a program called e-buddies where volunteers can be an on-line pen pal with Special Olympics athletes around the world. To sign up for e-buddies visit bestbuddies.org.

New York, N.Y.: I'm interested in volunteering but I have absolutely no experience with people with mental retardation or special needs. What can I do?

Kirsten Suto, Special Olympics: Special Olympics athletes are people just like you and I. If you are interested in volunteering, but are hesitant because of lack of experience, I suggest you ease into a volunteer situation. You may want to watch a Special Olympics event or practice or volunteer to hand out awards at a local event.

There are always volunteer orientations and handbooks available prior to events.

If you enjoy participating in sports, a great way to learn about Special Olympics athletes is to play on a Special Olympics Unified Sports Team. This is where people with and without mental retardation play on the same team.

Check with your local Special Olympics program to find out what Special Olympics Peer opportunities are available.

Boston, Mass.: What is the age range of Special Olympics athletes?

Kirsten Suto, Special Olympics: One can become a Special Olympics athlete beginning at age eight. We have athletes as old as 80 still benefiting from Special Olympics.

Maryland: I've volunteered for the Special Olympics before and I've always wondered why there aren't more children athletes involved? And what do you think about Unified Teams?

Kirsten Suto, Special Olympics: Believe it or not, only a small percentage of the population we serve is participating in Special Olympics. Part of our mission in the new millennium is to increase the number of people, children and adults, who can benefit from Special Olympics.

I actually have participating in Special Olympics Unified Sports (people with and without mental retardation on the same team). I played on a softball team and it was one of the most educational and enlightening experiences of my life.

Charles City, Va.: What's it like to be a volunteer for Special Olympics? I've heard that it's pretty rewarding.

Kirsten Suto, Special Olympics: Special Olympics inspires greatness, not only in the athletes we serve but with everyone it touches. Special Olympics offers the unique opportunity to witness, hands-on, what a volunteer's time is going toward. Seeing the smile on a athlete's face as they cross the finish line. Watching the pride in a parent's eyes as their child receives a medal. Participating in a high five with an athlete who who just scored a goal. These are opportunities that only a volunteer with Special Olympics can enjoy.

Chicago, Ill.: How many sports do you offer?

Kirsten Suto, Special Olympics: Special Olympics offers training and competition in 25 different sports. Aquatics, Athletics, Basketball, Bowling, Cycling, Equestrian Sports, Football (Soccer), Golf, Gymnastics (Artistic and Rhythmic), Powerlifting, Roller Skating, Softball, Tennis, Volleyball, Alpine Skiing, Cross Country Skiing, Figure Skating, Floor Hockey, Speed Skating, Badminton, Bocce, Sailing, Snowshoeing, Table Tennis, Team Handball

Dallas, Tex.: Where does all of your funding come from? Corporate partners or individual donations?

Kirsten Suto, Special Olympics: Special Olympics relies on individuals, organizations and corporations for donations, gifts and sponsorship.

Free Media: This weekend is National Youth Service Day. Is Special Olympics hosting any events or special programs to commemorate?

Kirsten Suto, Special Olympics: Special Olympics always thanks and recognizes the thousand of volunteers who help the athletes who benefit from Special Olympics. To find out about local volunteering and special programs to commemorate National Youth Service Day, please contact your local Special Olympics Program by visiting our web site at www.specialolympics.org.

Salt Lake City, Utah: I see a lot of police officers supporting Special Olympics. What role do they play?

Kirsten Suto, Special Olympics: The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics is an international series of torch relays, run by law enforcement offices, leading up to each Program's Special Olympic Summer Games. Law Enforcement Officers raise money in conjunction with their Torch Runs for their local Special Olympics program.

Free Media: That was our last question today for Special Olympics, Inc., spokesperson Kirsten Suto. Thanks to Kirsten and to everyone who joined us.

We will continue our conversations about volunteering tomorrow: