YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — An athletic field on this airlift hub in western Tokyo was awash in smiles Saturday as more than 600 people gathered to cheer and compete at the 44th Kanto Plains Special Olympics.

American and Japanese athletes and volunteers from U.S. and Self-Defense Force bases in and around Tokyo gathered for the event. Athletes competed at Yokota High School, the base natatorium and bowling alley.

“Today we witness the passion and skill of the athletes who have come here to showcase their abilities and their love for sports,” Col. Andrew Roddan, commander of Yokota’s 374th Airlift Wing, said at the opening ceremony. “Your determination to succeed is inspiring.”

Events included 50-, 100- and 200-meter sprints, basketball, swimming, softball throw, disc throw, soccer shootout, standing long jump and 400-meter relay run.

Hitomi Nishizawa said her son Jaden Beaty, 11, a student at Yokosuka Middle School, was competing in his first Special Olympics. Jaden said he enjoys bowling because he is great at getting strikes.

“I’m trying to process still,” she said at the event. “There are so many people here this year, but I think it’s really great to see a lot of volunteers helping out.”

Volunteers at the event grilled food, cheered and acted as buddies to support and guide the athletes at their events.

“I decided to volunteer today because I felt like it was a good opportunity to help with bringing joy to kids,” said Army Sgt. Ed Wilder of Public Health Command at nearby Camp Zama. “That’s my only goal – to bring joy to the kids and just watch them have a good time.”

Wilder escorted Jaden to every event and cheered him on.

“We are going to be participating in a softball throw, and I believe he is going to kill it,” Wilder said, smiling.

Another first-time volunteer, Staff. Sgt. Daela Robinson, a pharmacy technician with Yokota’s 374th Medical Group, helped with the disc throw by cheering on the athletes and handing them discs.

“I love seeing everyone’s smiling faces as we’re cheering them on,” he said. “Everyone is just so happy to be here, and I’m happy to help someone smile for the day.”

Athlete Marcus Trotter, 17, is diagnosed with autism, said his father, Bryan Trotter. Marcus, a student at Nile C. Kinnick High School on Yokosuka Naval Base, has competed in the event since 2019.

“It gives him same recognition that it gives other special needs kids,” his father said. “It lets him know that he still has a place and that he can still be a winner. He’s a very good athlete; he’s done five events so far and he’s knocking them out the park.”

Events like the Special Olympics are good for special needs parents, too, Bryan Trotter said.

“We don’t really go to other bases that often,” he said. “It allows us as parents to intermingle with each other and see what other programs are out there for our kids.”