ITEM PHOTO BY OWEN O’ROURKE
Billy Carroll will be throwing the javelin in the Special Olympics at Boston University and Harvard this weekend.
BY MICHELE DURGIN
LYNN — Billy Carroll knows what he wants heading into the Massachusetts Special Olympics Summer Games this weekend.
He wants to win.
“I’m proud to be going there and I hope I win,” said Carroll, 14, a student at the Cotting School in Lexington. “It’s fun to win.”
The games will be held at Boston University and Harvard University. Both schools provide housing, meals and shuttle services for hundreds of special needs athletes, coaches and chaperones. An opening ceremony is scheduled for Friday at 5 p.m. at BU’s Nickerson Field.
The three-day event is comprised of more than 30 individual and team sports, including aquatics, gymnastics, powerlifting, tennis, volleyball and track and field.
Carroll, of Lynn, is a javelin thrower and a 100-meter sprinter.
Susan Carroll, Billy’s mom, said she is looking forward to the busy weekend full of celebration and love.
“It’s a proud moment to see my son, as well as so many other athletes have an opportunity to show off their talents and be rewarded,” she said. “Our family feels so much support and friendship from many wonderful people and we are grateful for all of it.”
She also said one of her favorite moments will be when the participants recite the Special Olympics athlete oath.
It reads,“Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”
The oath was originally introduced in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver at the inaugural Special Olympics,which were held in Chicago.
Billy’s dad, Jack Carroll, said he appreciates events like this, along with the organizers who help make it happen for the athletes and their families.
He praised Dan Cutty, the team’s coach and physical education teacher at the school.
“He does an unbelievable job with the kids,” he said. “All of the weekend’s events are great. The kids always love it. We are looking forward to a terrific weekend with a lot of big hearted people.”
