Gold medal winner Steven Ford, 21, carried the Special Olympics torch high on the final leg of its relay as the Area 17 Track and Field Games opened at John McConnell Stadium on Saturday.

He followed three of his fellow athletes on the relay, but as a member of Arkansas' gold medal-winning floor hockey team from the recent World Winter Games in Anchorage, Alaska, he had the honor of carrying the final leg.

And he knew exactly what the honor meant.

"It meant to show people just how wonderful it is to win for these guys, and they ought to try someday to be volunteers to help Special Olympics," Ford said his Alaskan adventure was "a blast."

"To be able to talk to people from everywhere, to share hearts, to share good times and to meet new friends," he said.

And after the approximately 250 athletes started the Games by taking the Special Olympics oath -- "Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt" -- that was also the order of the day for the Area 17 Games on Saturday.

The Parade of Athletes, complete with music, escorts bearing their affiliation and many smiles and cheers from the stands, included representatives from Action Services in Morrilton, Conway Human Development Center, Dardanelle Public Schools, Friendship Services, Independent Living Services, Marva Workshop, Russellville Public Schools, Van Buren County, Vilonia Public Schools and Wonderview Public Schools.

Area 17 includes Faulkner, Pope, Van Buren, Conway and Perry counties.

The athletes’ entry was led by a flag-bearing ROTC honor guard from the University of Central Arkansas, under the direction of Master Sgt. Don Becker.

Although the UCA group has served similarly for other events, including the Easter Seals Arkansan of the Year awards, Becker said the Special Olympics assignment was different.

"Oh, definitely," he said. "We don't even have to ask for volunteers. We just say, 'This is what we're doing for Special Olympics."

Saturday's group included UCA students Michael York, Justin Geiger, Scott Wise and Melissa Bryant.

Among the special guests was Bobby Doyle, executive director of the Arkansas Special Olympics organization.

He said these Games traditionally served as the kickoff for the other 17 areas in the state.

"This is the only one I know I can get to because it's the only one this week," he said.

Many of the Area 17 athletes will move on to the State Games in Searcy May 17-19. From there, some will move a step closer to the World Summer Games in Dublin, Ireland, in 2003.

Such an endeavor can never be accomplished without a multitude of volunteers. Area 17 Director Brenda Holt recognized several during the opening ceremonies.

Parents of the athletes were among those praised most.

Two Greek organizations from UCA, Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority and Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity, had members out working as volunteers.

Lisa Dunard of Alpha Sigma Alpha said Special Olympics was among the group's philanthropic projects.

"We normally clean up our stretch of the interstate or donate money to St. Jude's (Children's Hospital), but here we get to be involved with the people," she said. "We get to see the smiles on their faces."

This is the first year for Phi Sigma Kappa to be on campus, but Andy Naegle, publicity chair, said Special Olympics was a cause dear to his heart.

"My little sister has competed in Special Olympics in Paris," he said of his hometown. "This is a big deal to them. I respect the people up front who put it all together. I'm just glad we're able to help out."