European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 10, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Instructors encourage runners during a race at the san veto air station special olympics in Italy. A amps Gary Miller j  is icing on the cake by Gary Miller Mediterranean Bureau dan1a Curto waited anxiously in her wheelchair Tor her turn although the 19-year-old suffers from a neurological disorder and has Little control of a her limbs she was about to compete in Frisbee and. Softball throws. A a a Ato Emolion Ai and excited not afraid Quot Curto said. Quot i m very Happy to be  her physical education teacher from the Dante Alighieri school in Brindisi. Italy held her up so she could toss the. A Frisbee. It Ell to the ground about a Yard from ,but volunteers and other  her. Effort. The applause was repeated throughout the Day for the 97 italian athletes who competed in the special olympics. Sponsored by the americans at san Vito air station. A a a a. Quot these children have Many difficulties Quot said Andriano. Barranco a therapist at the Brindisi Institute of the family. Quot to run jump and throw a Ball is challenging for them a a a physically and mentally  Here and meet other. People is the Best part for them. Winning is .  Gemma s Daug Titer Fernanda ran the 50-meter dash for the Francavilla Fontana occupational a Center a a a a a. -. A these games Are very important for these very. Special children Quot Carmela Gemma  s a Chance. A for them to realize the social part of their lives. V. ,. Quot it s a credit to the american air Force for organizing a this because in Southern Italy the people and institutions seem to forget a lot of important  this year s special olympics was the bases fifth. About 300 air station personnel pm family members. Volunteered to Host seven teams from  and. Other organizations near the base. The air station is located seven Miles from the Eastern italian port of Brindisi. Volunteers prepared the Field served As translators a and Hugger recorded statistics and cooked hamburgers for lunch. They came from throughout the air station but members of the 6917th electronic  the committees,.said staff sgt. Michael Perry. One of the games coordinators. A a a by t a Quot its our Puppy a Perry said explaining  was the 6917.th s primary Community relations. Effort each  a a a a a a a the Competition included seven events three a individual races a relay Long jump softball and Frisbee throws. \ a a a y v. Although the International special olympics. V organization sanctions san Vito a games winners from the base s Competition do not Advance to a higher level Perry said. At san Vito game organizers try to present As Many awards As possible to recognize the athletes a. Efforts. A a a. A a. A. -. -. A. Italy has regional and National games through which athletes can Advance to the International games. Alessandro Deruvo 22. From a team in nearby Taranto is headed for the International summer games in. Minneapolis in july. Although he ran and did the Long. Jump at san Vito he said he prefers gymnastics the category in which he will compete at Minneapolis he earned a Good medal in gymnastics at last Summers games in Glasgow Scotland. A life took away  from our children. In sports they can do something Quot said Giacomo Russo whose son Antonio competed for the team from Mesagno. Quot we need to say thank you Many times Over to the base for sponsoring this  a. A. Is amps Gary Miller Vincenzo roman Al ii helps Dania Curto in the Frisbee throw at san Vito. Page 14 a the stars ant stripes mond