The Nassau County Games for the Physically Challenged has reached a historic milestone, as this month’s event marks four decades of athletes coming together for competition.
It’s a proud moment for the participants, local leaders and organizers, as the athletes look to compete May 29 and 30 at Mitchel Field Athletic Complex and Nassau Community College. The event culminates on Saturday, May 30, with a celebration dinner dance at Hofstra University’s Hofstra USA dining hall.
“It is just wonderful seeing that the Games are in their 40th year,” said Susan Maxwell, program director of the Games. “With all the different changes we had through the years, the different areas that have taken the Games on, seeing Nassau County step up and have them keep it going — I think 40 years is quite a milestone.”
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman highlighted the anniversary at a press conference at The Viscardi Center in Albertson in April. “This is the 40th year in a row that we’re going to have the games, and we are super, super excited,” Blakeman said at an April press conference announcing the games. “People will have all kinds of fun. It’s a great atmosphere for everybody.”
Sports included in the Games this year are the following: table tennis, track and field, swimming, wheelchair basketball, slalom, archery, discus, soft discus, club throw, precision throw, and distance kick. More than 1,300 athletes participated last year.
Susan Gordon-Ryan, the founder of the Games, remembers how the event came to be.
She first started with the New York State Office for Parks and Recreation and Historic Preservation in 1983, where she worked on special projects. One of the first projects she had the opportunity to be involved in was being the state liaison for the 1984 Paralympic Games, held in Nassau County.
“At that time, the Governor [Mario Cuomo] came out to the Games and was so impressed with the athletes that he gave an allocation in the State Office for Parks called New York State Games for the Disabled, and wanted us to do something with it [the money],” she said.
Gordon-Ryan was diagnosed with polio at 1 1/2 years old, right before the vaccine was available. The activity she most got involved in as a child was swimming, located at The
Viscardi Center on Long Island. She was able to establish the Games from her own personal experience, never having been in group activities as a youngster.
“I never had any [group] programs when I was a kid, so I thought let me plug this money into training young people ages 5-21 with physical disabilities and get them involved in sports and fitness,” she said.
Gordon-Ryan shares that the Games would be nothing without the many people involved over the years.
“I think one of the things that make the Games so important is the volunteers, coaches, teachers and families,” she said. “They really come out to celebrate one thing and that is the athletes. It’s just a very joyful event. The reason it has lasted this long is the support of State Parks and Nassau County and everyone who helps make the Games run every year.”
The structure of the Games is mostly volunteer-based, and the Games are run by Maxwell, the program director. Maxwell took over the position from Gordon-Ryan and Maxwell is committed to making the event a great turnout every year.
“I am the person that puts the whole thing together,” Maxwell said. “I contact all the schools, sponsors for sponsorships, and the whole entire setup of the program.”
Maxwell also works to get as many volunteers as possible to help with the Games each year. There are volunteers that have been volunteering at the Games for the past 40 years, which is quite an accomplishment.
“I start on January 1, sending everything to the schools to get the athletes, and then I have to set up transportation and housing for the schools as well,” she said.
Any school that has a special education program is invited to apply and send kids from their school to be represented in the games. Parents who have children that are not in such programs—but have physical challenges— can also sign up their kids to participate.
The Games used to be called New York State Parks Games for The Physically Challenged and the NYS Parks department started the games in Brockport [New York] in 1986, according to Maxwell.
“My son is disabled and has cerebral palsy, and we went to the first Games in Brockport,” Maxwell said. “At that time, we fell in love with the program and we haven’t missed a game since then.”
Maxwell is very pleased with the work she has done over the years and is grateful to see that this special event has hit 40 years.
“I think I have the most rewarding job I could ever have,” she said.
Maxwell looks forward to the Games every year and sees the impact the Games have on the athletes.
“The highlight for me every year is to see the kids there smiling,” she said. “They have peers that are like them. It’s a day for them to be free, they don’t have to worry about their daily struggles. Watching their faces, they all have smiles, they are all so happy. It’s an inspiration for everybody and it’s very rewarding.”
Each participant competes against other athletes of the same gender, age group, and ability. Athletes compete for gold, silver and bronze medals, as well as 4th, 5th and 6th place ribbons. All participants receive a personal best ribbon for their accomplishments.
To learn more about the Nassau County Games for the Physically Challenged, head to the website, https://nassaucountypcgames.com/