On the Fourth of July, Cliff Island celebrated the 30th annual ACE (Athetics, Conservation, and Education) Olympics. ACE is an island organization created 27 years ago to serve community needs. It now supports a variety of programs including the annual Olympics.
Earl and Judy MacVane conceived the Olympics 30 years ago as a way to bring islanders together for a day of friendly competition. Field games and other events such as offshore log-rolling were held on a local beach. In 1977, the Olympics moved to a ball field acquired by ACE. Since then, the Olympics have been held on the ball field every Fourth of July weekend.
“The Olympics have changed over the years,” said ACE chairman Roger Berle. “The first ten years required a lot of work and endless meetings. Then we started to make it more relaxing, more of a community event. Today everything is run by volunteers. We work smarter, not harder.”
This year, the Olympics included a road race, field games and a lobster bake. Most events are free, with food prices remaining low. “We’re a family event,” explained Cliff Island Association President Steve Little, “and we’re not trying to make money. We hold the Olympics as a means to bring the community together.”
Patience McCann, a local teenager, says, “I like how the games make everyone smile… everyone, even the older people.” Her friend Helen La Rochelle agrees. “I liked the lobster crate race the best,” she said. “I liked it because it is unordinary and it’s a Cliff Island tradition.”
Residents are already looking ahead to the future – 2006 to be exact – which will mark the 20th anniversary of the ACE Olympics Road Race. Dale Dyer, the race coordinator, would like to see over 100 runners participating in the 20th anniversary race. With 92 participants this summer, it seems likely that he will meet his goal.
In the meantime, island residents have the rest of the summer to enjoy their memories of the Olympics before the start of the ceremonies in Athens. Unlike the real Olympics, however, Cliff Islanders can boast that their field games really do bring people together through competition. As summer resident Clarice Medrano observed, “I love the Olympics because it’s a good time to see everyone on the island having fun.”
– Danielle Hall