The man in charge of relighting the Special Olympic flame in Bermuda has bolted out of the starting blocks with a series of projects designed to recapture public interest in the games for the disabled.

For years the charity has quietly gone about helping special people realise their potential and surpass new challenges.

However over the last few years not much has been heard from the unique charity.

But now all that is about to change.

To get back into the swing of things, earlier this year the charity recruited Robert Lightbourne as their fund raising coordinator and public relations chairperson.

"We now want everyone to know that the Special Olympics is alive and well,'' he said. "And we are working on several projects.

"About 10 to 15 years ago, Special Olympics was in its heyday in Bermuda,'' Mr. Lightbourne recalled. "Everyone would turn out for the games, which were held in May, and enjoyed the torch run put on by the Police and Firemen.

"Special Olympics Bermuda needed new blood to increase their fund raising and get their programmes going again,'' he explained. "We are in the process of restructuring.'' The Bermuda Special Olympics attempts to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with disabilities.

The BSO's events provide opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and share skills and friendship with families, other special athletes and the community.

"Special Olympics Bermuda is about special people in the community and giving them the opportunity to overcome the challenges they face in their life,'' Mr.

Lightbourne explained. "It is not about who comes first, second or third -- everyone is a winner for just participating.

"Our motto is that everyone is a winner.'' The organisation was founded three decades ago and all of their programmes are open to anyone above the age of eight, regardless of their degree of disability.

Anyone with an IQ of less than 70 is considered to be a `special person' -- an average person has an IQ over 100.

The first of Mr. Lightbourne's many new projects aimed at bring the charity back into the spotlight is a children's safety book.

"Children are a valuable asset in our community and more attention needed to be given to their safety. This book will cover everything from babysitting to child abuse.'' The safety book will be launched by a host of local dignitaries at noon on Thursday at City Hall.

The organisation is also gearing up to send a Bermudian contingent to the International World Games to be staged next summer in the US.

"The International World Games will begin the end of June and continue into the first week of July, finishing July 4,'' said Mr. Lightbourne. "They will be held in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

"We are now on a campaign to raise funds to send the team to the games. We have already started training some of the athletes. At present we have three sports -- bowling, tennis and golf -- in training.'' And Mr. Lightbourne invited the public to come out and support the athletes.

"On October 28 we will be having a bowling tournament at Warwick Lanes,'' he explained. "The public can come out and watch. They can also come out to their training sessions and see how the team are coming along. They train Sunday afternoons from 3 to 4 p.m.

"The tennis team trains Saturday mornings at the Tennis Stadium.'' Mr. Lightbourne admitted that the charity had a big hurdle ahead of them in trying to raise enough funds to send a Bermuda contingent abroad.

"We will need about $100,000 to equip everyone, pay for tickets and rooms,'' he estimated.

And he added that donations to the charity need not only be monetary.

"Time is just as precious, if not more so, than money,'' Mr. Lightbourne pointed out.

Anyone who would like to volunteer or support he charity in any way should contact the national director of the organisation, Robin Ingham at 292-1269.

Mr. Lightbourne also encourage anyone with a special child to contact the local Special Olympics office at 292-1269.

IN SAFE HANDS -- The Bermuda Special Olympics will be launching their new Children's Safety Handbook at City Hall on Thursday.