With the start of the Special Olympics in Ames, the city will be flooded with approximately 2,700 athletes and their accompanying fans and family. Businesses in the area, especially restaurants, will be benefited by the many visitors. However, the Special Olympics are a huge event that brings more than just a temporary population boom to the Ames community.

Though the majority of the Special Olympics is organized and handled by its large staff — made up of coaches, directors and other individuals — the event is heavily dependent on the aid of willing volunteers from Ames and surrounding areas. These volunteers awaken an element of giving in the city of Ames, which otherwise is often dormant. Whether the volunteers are various Ames businesses, unaffiliated individuals or students of Iowa State University, they are proving themselves as extraordinary citizens through their unpaid contribution.

Though the events begin this week, it is never too late to get involved in volunteer work. The Special Olympics of Iowa website can start potential volunteers in the right direction. Whether or not you get involved in this year’s Special Olympics of Iowa, the organization and accompanying spirit of unity can spark future volunteer endeavors in the Ames community.

Though volunteering is the most obvious or direct way of helping the Special Olympics of Iowa, there are other ways to support the event. By simply being a spectator, you can promote the Special Olympics and show support for the thousands of amazing athletes that compete.

A schedule of sporting events and competitions for the week can be found on the Special Olympics of Iowa website. If there is a sport you’re particularly interested in, or maybe if you just have a few free hours, go watch. The Special Olympics are an occasion to bring together not only people of Ames, but also people of entirely different backgrounds. By supporting or spectating, you can promote the feeling of unity and strength for which the Special Olympics strive.

On the bottom of the Iowa Special Olympics homepage is the statement that reads: “If you are a fan of sports that create unity, athletes who inspire and connections that foster acceptance, then you are already a fan of Special Olympics.” The athletes, coaches, volunteers and spectators of the Iowa Special Olympics all contribute to the overwhelming sense of unity. We are fortunate that, as students or residents of Ames, Iowa, we can be a small part of this wonderful event. Whether through volunteering, donating or simply spectating, all of us have an opportunity here in Ames to foster that spirit of acceptance and compassion.