craigdailypress.com

Josh Dalton couldn't sleep Thursday night. He said it was because he was hungry, but his mom, Bonnie, knows better.

She knows he was excited to fly for the first time and go to Nagano, Japan, for the 2005 Special Olympics World Winter Games.

"Every morning he tells me how many days he has left," she said Friday.

"Less than 24 hours and I go to Denver," he retorted.

Dalton, 17, met up with the other five Colorado athletes Saturday, and their flight took off from Denver International Airport on Sunday. He'll be gone for two weeks -- the longest he has ever been away from home on his own -- competing in the snowshoe race contest.

He has been training "pretty much every day." Training includes riding his bike, walking and swimming to stay in shape.

He conquered Cathy Cisar Hill on snowshoes, one of his training goals.

"It helps strengthen my legs," he said.

He trained with Team USA at Copper Mountain to get to know his teammates and to prepare for the contest. Dalton is one of 19 snowshoe racers and more than 60 athletes representing America in the games. He will participate in the 100- and 200-meter competitions.

Bonnie and her husband Jay are disappointed they aren't able to join their son, but the trip was too costly. Special Olympics is paying for the athletes' travel expenses.

In 2001, Bonnie, a Special Olympics coach and the local coordinator, went with her other son, J.D., now 20, to Alaska for the World Games.

She'll be able to share this Olympics with Josh only through stories and pictures he's taking with his six disposable cameras.

A senior at Moffat County High School, Josh was diagnosed with seizures at age 8. He also suffers from mental and motor-skill disabilities.

His friends at school will be cheering him.

"They're all very happy for him and a little bit, 'I wish it was me,'" Bonnie said.

She's a little nervous about him being away from home. Team USA chose black and gray as their team colors -- instead of red, white and blue -- because of the threat of terrorist attacks.

But she knows Josh will be in good hands, with several coaches attending and the Japanese host

family that will take Josh in for four days during his trip.

"They're just going to make it as comfortable to be in their country as possible," she said.

Josh insists he will eat "no sushi" after trying it at Night of Nagano, a Special Olympics fund-raiser, where traditional Japanese meals were served. Bonnie hopes he'll keep an open mind and enjoy the opportunity to go to Japan.

"I'm really excited for him," Bonnie said. "I think he has an opportunity to just have a positive experience. I try not to think of the what-ifs."

She knew she would tear up when she took him to the airport Sunday, but when she asked Josh if he would cry, he had a different response.

"Josh said, 'No way! Bye!'"

Michelle Perry can be reached at 824-7031 or mperry@craigdailypress.com.