European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 10, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Instructors encourage runners during a race at the san Vito air station special olympics in Italy. A amps Gary Miller special olympics winning is icing on the cake by Gary Miller Mediterranean Bureau d Ania Curto waited anxiously in her. Wheelchair for her  the 19-year-old suffers from a ,. Neurological disorder and has Little control of her limbs she was about to compete in Fonsbee and softball throws. Quot i m emotional and excited not afraid Quot Curto said. Quot i m very Happy to be  physical education teacher from the Dante Alighieri. School in Brindisi Italy held her up so she could toss the. Fonsbee. It fell to the ground about a Yard from her feet but volunteers and other competitors applauded her Effort. ,. A 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. Quot these children have Many difficulties Quot said a Ciriano Barranco a therapist at the Brindisi Institute of the family. Quot to run jump and throw a Ball is challenging for them. Physically and mentally. To be Here and meet other people is the Best part for them. Winning is  Carmela Gemma s daughter Fernanda ran the 50-meter dash for the Francavilla Fontana occupational Center. A a a these games Are very important for these very special children Quot Carmela Gemma said. Quot it s a Chance for them to realize the social part of their lives. Quot it s a credit to the american air Force for organizing 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 and family members volunteered to Host seven teams from italian schools 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 and Hugger. Recorded statistics and cooked. Hamburgers for lunch. They came from throughout the air station but members of the 6917th electronic group headed the committees said staff sgt. Michael Perry one of the games coordinators. A it s our Puppy a Perry said explaining that the olympics was the 6917th s primary Community relations Effort each year. A a the Competition included seven events three individual races a relay Long jump softball and Frisbee throws. Although the International special olympics 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 efforts v. 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 Rah 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 Gold medal in gymnastics at last Summers games in Glasgow Scotland. A Quot life took away a lot from our children. In sports they  something Quot said Giacomd 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 Competition Quot Lucia cipolletta tosses a softball in the special oly Milmet a amps. Gary Miller Vincenzo Romanelli helps Dania Curto in the Frisbee throw at san Vito. Page 14 a the stars and stripes mondmm1 t a