My friend Richard Calvanese from "the old neighborhood" in Springfield, Mass. He's a CPA and one of many who took time off from their businesses to volunteer to officiate the SO World Games.

Billy Crystal served as MC for the gala opening ceremonies - his best line... "Not many people know that {Duke basketball} Coach Krzyzewski's name is worth 10,000 points in Scrabble."

We drew a small crowd to NC State's Carter-Finley Stadium (more than 55,000 athletes, family members, officials, sponsors, and guests). Maya Angelou inspired with a reading, NBA star Grant Hill addressed the athletes, Stevie Wonder entertained and Kathy Ireland, well, she was just Kathy Ireland, and that was enough.

Arnold was in the house (with lovely spouse Maria Shriver) before he became the Governator.

Even a Blue Angels flyover.

Yes, I was one of the volunteers {I wish I could locate that hat}.

Lots of temporary stone dust courts were set up. We battled rain and overcast skies a couple days, and high temperatures and bright sunlight on others.

Officials in white, other volunteers in gold. Note red and green flags to indicate who plays next - helps with the language barrier in international play. {Also helps in any venue where either acoustics and/or participant's hearing are not so good.}

Look how smart these volunteers are - all reading the first edition of my book! It was "hot off the press" at that time.

We learned that body English was just as important at the World Games as it is in our own leagues.

That's what I'm talkin' about!

You go, girl!

Athletes from all over the world descended on the Raleigh-Durham, NC area to compete.

Standard steel tape measures were used by the referees.

These athletes (New Zealand, I think) had the most sought after hats for trading.

Medal ceremony.

Pin trading is big business hereabouts.

Ah yes, I remember these well.

Closing ceremonies were at Duke University.

The closing cermonies were just as much a gala event as the opening ceremonies.

The 1999 Special Olympics World Games concluded with a world class fireworks display.