In the spirit of goodwill

It's warm, there's beach music playing, people are playing volleyball and a surfboard strives to buck its rider into the waves. Yet, there is a significant lack of drunken college students foolishly showing off their unmentionables. \nInstead of a plethora of cameramen searching for their next unwitting victim, there will be college students dancing, Special Olympics athletes competing and children playing games -- all for the benefit of the Indiana Special Olympics at the 2004 Spirit of Sport.\nThis year's all-night event will feature a beach theme, complete with activities such as a Hula Hoop Contest, Cannonball Contest and Beach Bingo. \n"We will be having a limbo competition and a mechanical surfboard," President of Spirit of Sport, Stacy Dixon said. "It's similar to the mechanical bull we had last year, but it's a surfboard."\nIn its 27-year history, the event has raised more than $300,000 for the Special Olympics, and organizers intend to add to that money in this year's celebration.\n"This year our goal is to raise $15,000," Dixon said. "That was the amount of money we raised last year and I think we have the potential to raise more than that. If all goes well, we should get $20,000."\nThe IU Recreational Sports division will raise money through donations from Polar Bear Plunge participants, event entrance fees and a celebrity auction which begins at 8:45 p.m. Event organizers said the Polar Bear Plunge and the auction will provide the bulk of SOS' proceeds. \n"We also have a celebrity auction with items donated from IU athletic teams such as the men's and women's basketball teams, soccer teams and we also have a Drew Brees autographed jersey and Dallas Mavericks stuff," Dixon said.\nOne highlight that has been a constant through the event's history is the annual Special Olympic basketball games, where Olympians show off their basketball skills to hundreds of screaming fans. SOS organizers said this event is one of the most electrifying events in the SOS gala. \n"At 5:30 p.m., we have Special Olympic basketball games," Assistant Director of Special Events for Recreational Sports, Joanne Orrange said. "It's truly an experience to watch the enjoyment of the athletes, and the hundreds of students that cheer them on. The energy level that you feel is amazing."\nWhile the Special Olympic basketball game has been a staple of the SOS since its inception, there is one large difference between this year's SOS and the events of the past -- most of the events are free, thanks to increased sponsorship from the IU Union Board.\n"This year, we're expecting big things from the Polar Bear Plunge and a lot more of the events are free of charge," former SOS President Brad Logar said. "That's the main difference between this year's event and last year's SOS."\nWhile more than a year goes into planning and execution of the event, organizers said the actual Spirit of Sport, itself, is truly something to behold.\n"The Spirit of Sport is the highlight of every year in my career," Orrange said. "I get to work with dedicated students, and when you're there, you really do feel like you're a part of something bigger than your life through the energy that is created by the event."\nThe 2004 Spirit of Sport will take place from 5 p.m. to 3 a.m. Friday, Feb. 6 at HPER Wildermuth. \n-- Contact senior writer Dan Patrick at djpatric@indiana.edu.