After one week, the Flame of Hope was extinguished and the 1995 Special Olympics World Games were over. The 7,000 athletes from more than 140 countries left a legacy of courage, inspiration, grit and joy.
"It was like the world came to me," said Gwen Long, a 33-year-old volunteer who gave massages to weary competitors. "It's something I'll remember for the rest of my life. It was an exhausting time, but it was a magical time."Timothy Shriver, the president of the organizing committee, officially ended the games, the world's largest sports event this year. The athletes stood in the stands at the Yale Bowl during the closing ceremonies, trading T-shirts, hats and pins. Some raced around the field, flags and banners streaming behind them.
The celebration included music by the Pointer Sisters and the country group the Moffatts.
Brian Holland, a 21-year-old speed skater from Winston-Salem, N.C., who earned two gold medals, said the games provided a powerful lesson. "It can teach them to love each other and try to help other people out," he said.
Gov. John Rowland announced the establishment of a Special Olympics Hall of Fame in New Haven. An elm tree will be planted in each town that hosted foreign delegation; the towns will receive plaques to honor volunteers.
"These games will serve as an inspiration to all of us for years to come," Rowland said. "... It has been an honor for us to host this event."
Commerce Secretary Ron Brown introduced marathon runners to the crowd of about 40,000. About 750,000 spectators attended some part of the games.
The final day featured the first Special Olympics marathon. Troy Rutter of Allentown, Pa., captured the gold, running the 26.2 miles in 2 hours, 59 minutes, 18 seconds.
A parade of winners marched through downtown New Haven before the closing ceremonies.
"This is just fabulous," said Mary Ann Bellis, who traveled from Seattle to see her nephew compete in gymnastics. "I'm in tears most of the time."
An estimated 15,000 medals were awarded during the games, and the athletes gave some stirring performances.
Among them were Elena Korpatsheva, a Kazakhstani basketball player who scored 51 points in one game. Doris Treamer of New Hampshire bowled 210, the first woman to exceed 200 at the Special Olympics. Panama won a silver medal in basketball with inspiring performances from Tomas Murray, who has one leg.
And there was tragedy. On Thursday, a soccer player from Nepal, Ramesh Mali, disappeared during an outing at Long Island Sound and is presumed drowned.
Four military jets flew over the Yale Bowl Sunday in tribute to Mali. A fund will be set up for Nepalese athletes in Mali's name.
The disappearances of Mali and two other athletes will prompt a safety review, and a buddy or mentor system may be instituted.
A bocce player from Bermuda was reported missing Tuesday but was found unharmed the following day. Saturday, a Dominican basketball player vanished but may be trying to establish U.S. residency. David Phelps, spokesman for Special Olympics International, said Juan Carlos Balbuena may have gone to New York to seek friends and family. Phelps said Balbuena told teammates he might try to stay in the United States. The player has an active visa and therefore has done nothing illegal.