Tuesday, April 14, 1992 THE STARS AND STRIPES Page 3

Danes, Americans find fun in sports

Even losers ore winners
during Mini-Olympics week
By KEN CLAUSON
Bremerhaven bureau
SONDERBORG, Denmark - A
seven-sport Danish-American Mini-
Olympics brought 160 American compet-
itors from Bremerhaven and Garlstedt to
Denmark for a week of sports, tours and
friendship that concluded Saturday.
The American contingent was mostly
soldiers, but also included family mem-
bers and civilians competing against
nearly 200 members of eight Sonderborg
sports clubs.
Events included bowling, soccer, vol-
leyball, basketball, shooting, Greco-
Roman and freestyle wrestling, and
American football. Women's competi-
tions included basketball, volleyball and
bowling.
The emphasis was on friendly competi-
tion rather than "winning is everything,"
according to Rick Hester, sports coordi-
nator for the greater Bremerhaven mili-
tary community.
"Of course, there's good old American
pride, but the main thing is just to play
the games and have a good time," he
said.
On Wednesday, a "fan bus" of 35 sol-
diers and family members took a one-day
trip from the Bremerhaven and Garlstedt
area to Denmark to cheer on the Ameri-
cans. The trip, which cost each person $5,
included a tour of Sonderborg and stops
at several athletic events.
To maintain the spirit of only playing
for fun, no awards were given for perfor-
mance, but all participants were to re-
ceive medallions with the event logo on
one side and the sport they participated
in on the other.
For some of the Americans, it was
their first opportunity to visit a European
country other than Germany.
"It's a really nice break," said Pfc.
Anika Might, a basketball player from
Bremenhaven's llth Postal Co. "It's
small and quiet, and the people here are
really nice and friendly. They really make
us feel welcome here. This is my first
(military) tour in Germany, and my first
time to visit another country. And it's my
first time to play internationally."
As could well be expected, each coun-
try was strong in some sports and weaker
in others. The American basketball
squads, men and women, trounced the
Danish club teams, and the Danes domi-
nated the soccer and shooting matches.
But most players enjoyed the games de-
spite sometimes lopsided scores.
"It was quite fun, but also interesting
to see how much we have to learn," said
Susanne Nielsen after her club played a
stronger American team. About 100 peo-
ple lined three sides of a tiny basketball
gym to watch a game Wednesday night.
The audience included American ath-
letes, family members and numerous
Danish teen-agers, a larger crowd than
the Danish team was used to, she said.
"We've never had that many specta-
tors," Nielsen said. "If we've got 10 peo-
ple watching, that's good here."
Sgt. 1st Class John Cruz, from the 2nd
Base Support Bn in Garlstedt, commend- SAS: Ken Clauson
ed the event organizers for including Americans, in dark jerseys, find themselves outclassed by a Danish soccer team.
family members in the teams. He and his
wife, Helen, both made the trip to play athletes planned to get involved as well Christcnscn, director of the tourist office.
volleyball and do some sightseeing on the — by showing the Danes how to throw a "It's simple, really. They like Ameri-
free daytime tours for the Americans. genuine American football tailgate party. cans and like to compete with other na-
"We've never been up here before, so The Mini-Olympics week was organ- tions," he said. But the town of about
it's been very enjoyable for us," he said. ized by the greater Bremerhaven military 30,000 people on an island just north of
"During the day all the players have a community recreation division and the the German border gets quite a few
chance to go on tours because they don't Sonderborg Tourist Office. Hester said American military visitors, he said.
play until night. And it's very good he thinks the event is the largest of its "Many Americans come to Sonderborg
they've allowed the families to be in- type that has ever been organized by any for weddings — about 700 per year," he
volved." U.S. Army Europe community. said. For American serviccmembers, get-
A couple of members of the wrestling "I think it's safe to say this is the first ting married in Denmark is often much
team were students from Osterholz High time something of this magnitude has quicker and easier than in Germany, and
been done — seven different sports, Sonderborg's proximity to the border
School on spring break, he said. men's and women's teams, and bringing makes it a popular stop.
The last competition was an American- them all to another country," he said Danish basketball player Mikkel Carl-
style football game Saturday afternoon Wednesday. The Saturday night closing sen said the sports week was long over-
pitting a Danish club team against the ceremony had to be moved to a larger fa- due.
Bremen Buccaneers, a semipro team that cility than originally planned because so "I think it's fun and it's a shame they
includes four American players. The rest many people wanted to attend, he said. didn't do it before the drawdown began,"
of the team is German. The Danish community's response was he said. "I would like this every year or
But Hester said the other American not really surprising, according to Per so."

Army agency needs RAF Alconbury finishes second

recreational specialists
for short Saudi duty
WASHINGTON (S&S) - The Army Com-
munity and Family Support Center is seeking
recreation specialists to serve four-month tempo-
rary duty tours in Saudi Arabia, officials said
Thursday.
These personnel work at various locations
within the desert kingdom, developing diverse
recreation programs, activities, tournaments and
facilities for soldiers stationed there.
To be considered, personnel must be em-
ployed by the Army as recreation specialists.
People with background in planning, administer-
ing and marketing Army recreation programs are
encouraged to apply, officials said.
Interested people can contact the Community
and Family Support Center by calling DSN 221-
2523 or commercial (703) 325-2523, or by fax at
DSN 221-2519 or commercial (703) 325-2519 for
details on how to apply. Applications must be re-
ceived by April 24.
This fifth group of volunteers, part of an Army
effort launched in January 1991 to have civilian
specialists develop morale, welfare and recrea-
tion programs in Southwest Asia, will depart for
Saudi Arabia on or around May 20, officials said.
in base excellence competition
By WALTER JAHNCKE
Staff writer
RAF Alconbury, England, has been named runner-
up for the Air Force's 1991 Commander-in-Chiefs In-
stallation Excellence Award. The award recogni/es the
base where facilities are best managed.
Altus AFB, Okla., came in first, earning $200,000 for
quality-of-life improvements — the only cash award in
the competition.
RAF Alconbury won the U.S. Air Forces in Europe
competition, allowing it to compete with Air Force
bases worldwide. A USAFE base, Bitburg AB in Ger-
many, won the 1990 worldwide competition.
A four-member inspection team visited Alconbury
from Feb. 18 through 21 and gave high praise to the
base for its appearance and increased productivity.
Lt. Col. Charles Henges, assistant deputy commander
Mandela says he, wife agree to separation
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AP) - Black
leader Nelson Mandela said Monday he was separating
from his wife Winnie, but denied it was linked to new
charges about her role in a kidnapping case.
The African National Congress president denied he
was leaving his wife in response to new allegations of
her involvement in the kidnapping and assault of black
youths in 1988 and 1989.
for resources at RAF Alconbury, cited some examples of
the award-winning base management. The club systems
for officers and non-commissioned officers were com-
bined to reduce employees and help the clubs operate
within their budgets. Another cost saver was having a
local farmer cut grass around the airfield, with the farmer
entitled to keep the mowed hay as payment. The new ar-
rangement replaced a $10,000-per-cut contract.
Henges said the base's new phone system saves
$100,000 a year, and money from RAF Alconbury's a l u -
minum recycling program goes into the base's morale,
welfare and recreation fund.
Construction projects on base included a miniature
golf course and a sports bar, where Henges said young
people can go to watch a large-screen television, play
video games and have a beer or soda. Also, nearly 15,(XMJ
evergreen seedlings were planted on the base.
"In view of the tensions that have arisen owing to
differences between ourselves on a number of issues in
recent months, we have mutually agreed that a separa-
tion would be best for each of us," Mandela told a news
conference.
There was no immediate response from Winnie
Mandela, 57. ANC officials could not say if she would
retain her positions in the movement.