A few years ago at the Seattle Special Olympics, nine contestants, all physically or mentally disabled, assembled at the starting line for the 100 yard dash. At the gun, they all started out, not exactly in a dash, but with a relish to run the race to the finish and win. All, that is, except one boy who stumbled on the asphalt , tumbled over a couple of times and began to cry. The other eight heard the boy. They slowed down and looked back. They all turned around and went back. Every one of them. One girl with Down's syndrome bent down and kissed him and said, “This will make it better.” All nine linked arms and walked across the finish line together. Everyone in the stadium stood, and the cheering went on for several minutes. People who were there are still telling the story.
几年前在西雅图特奥会上，九名或身患残疾或有智力障碍的选手齐聚起跑线，参加100码短跑比赛。发令枪响，大家起跑。这实在不是严格意义上的短跑，而是所有人津津有味地跑到终点线，跑完全程就算胜利。只见选手中有一个男孩蹒跚着跌倒了好几次，哭了起来。其他八个人听到哭声，都放慢速度回头看。他们又都转身跑了回去，无一例外。一个患有唐氏综合征的姑娘弯下腰亲吻了男孩，并对他说：“这样你会感觉好一点儿。”最后，九名选手相互搀扶着，一起走着通过了终点线。体育场里全体起立，人们足足为他们欢呼了好几分钟。当时在场的人直到今天还在讲述着这个故事。
-relish [ˈrelɪʃ] n. 味道；乐趣
-asphalt [ˈæsfælt] n. 沥青
特殊奥林匹克运动会(Special Olympics)分为本地、国家、洲际和世界等不同级别，世界特殊奥运会每两年举办一届，夏季和冬季交替举行。特奥会旨在帮助智障人士增强身体机能、动作技能，提高自尊自信，培养友谊，并帮助他们在日常生活、工作、学习和社区活动中获得更多来自家庭成员的支持，和社区志愿者成为好朋友，让每个人都看到智障人的价值。特奥会创始人是美国前总统约翰·肯尼迪的胞妹尤妮斯·肯尼迪·施赖弗(Eunice Kennedy Shriver)女士。其长姐先天患有轻度智障，脑手术失败后，智障程度加深，生活不能自理。施赖弗认为，对于智障人最可怕的往往不是他们自身的残疾，而是来自于正常人的偏见、冷漠和疏远。于是，在接管肯尼迪基金会后，她专门从事为智力障碍人士谋求公民权利的公益事业。1968年7月，首届世界特奥会在美国芝加哥举行。施赖弗说：“特奥会所展现的，是作为个体的人的本质——他们的精神、他们的勇气、他们的品行、他们的爱。”