LIBERTY -- Beverly Williamson helped one athlete with his gloves, adjusted the top of three knit caps a second was wearing, told a third to tighten his snowshoe bindings, checked jacket zippers all around and didn't even flinch when one of the squad plucked a safety pin from one of the several cords dangling around her neck.
"It the Girl Scout background," she said. "Always prepared" -- but these weren't Scouts.
Williamson, an adapted physical education teacher in the Davis School District, is coach for the Davis Angels team at the Special Olympics 2011 Winter Games held Saturday at North Fork Park.
The half-dozen members of the team are from Davis County. All have different disabilities, which means Williamson has to be ready for just about any emergency.
"I enjoy it, but it's been a totally exhausting week," she said, smiling from under the bright-yellow knit cap that is the team's trademark.
This year's games took place at North Fork Park and Powder Mountain ski resort. The ski resort hosted several downhill events, while snowshoe races and cross-country skiing were held at North Fork Park.
More than 200 athletes from around Utah were registered.
Many have been to the games for several years running.
Matt Allred, of Mountain Green, was there with his younger brother, Brian, who has a learning disability. This year, Matt brought his own son, Kaden, to help take part.
"Brian's had cognitive disabilities his whole life and got involved in Special Olympics about 10 years ago," Matt said, at which point Brian interrupted the conversation.
"At age 12, I was diagnosed with a disability," he said slowly.
"But you've still got charisma, right?" Matt said, and Brian smiled.
Matt said he and Kaden were taking part in the games with Brian this year. The Special Olympics has begun using "unified" teams, joining lesser-abled athletes with their healthier friends or relatives.
Does that make some teams unequal? The numbers are balanced, Matt said, but "it's never been equal, and nobody cares. I don't think anyone ever looked up to see where they stood in performance."
Williamson said the social aspect of the games is all that really counts. Having relatives compete along with the athletes promotes motivation. If the athletes don't have siblings, volunteers join in.
Roylene Lund, of West Jordan, is a coach for the Hart Vigsen School's team of Salt Lake City. Her son, Jay Dell, 18, has Down syndrome and is on the team, so she's got double duty.
"It's so much fun. It's so social. They make so many friends, and they get more excited than when the real Olympics come," she said as Jay lined up for his run in the 100-meter snowshoe race.
Lund said the 2002 Winter Games weren't all that exciting for her, "but I love this. I think I have him in these as much for me as for him."
Her son lined up with other racers. The Special Olympics doesn't use a starting gun, so someone yelled, "Go!" -- and they were off, arms and legs akimbo, snowshoes flailing.
Lund yelled, "Run fast!" -- without saying who should run fast.
One of the officials hollered, "Yes J.D!" as Lund's son rounded the far turn, took the lead and crossed the line, arms waving.
But everyone cheered for the other racers as well.
"Everyone wins," Lund said.
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