(Feb. 18, 2001) Special Olympics World Winter Games volunteers began streaming through the headquarters on Ship Creek Avenue on Saturday to pick up uniforms. The 5,500 volunteers will staff 357 jobs during the games, scheduled for March 4-11 in Anchorage, Girdwood and Eagle River.

Gladys Wood Elementary School teacher Dorothy Matsui could be considered a supervolunteer, working at headquarters as much as she can. ''I don't know why,'' she said. ''I like the feeling of being part of it.''

She was handing out fuzzy vests to other volunteers Saturday and will coordinate helpers for the floor hockey event when the competition is under way.

Robin and Jim Stout will assist Nordic skiers at Kincaid Park during the games, getting them to the starting area and out of the finish line area.

''We were asked two or three years ago to get involved for a weekend,'' said Jim Stout. Instead, they're both taking off work for the whole week. They're regulars at ski races. ''If it's not technical, we get stuck with it,'' he joked.

Fifteen-year-old Scott Schlosser of Dimond High hoped to try out his Japanese skills after 10 years in a language immersion program. Instead, he'll be a transportation assistant at one of the hotels, greeting athletes and sending them off to practice and games. Apparently, there were enough interpreters, he said. But he's excited anyway.

Volunteer services director Rachel Barber said enough people have volunteered for all of the jobs except those that require medical expertise. There are twice as many volunteers as there will be coaches and athletes participating.

The volunteers have until the games begin to pick up the T-shirts, vests and jackets that make up their uniforms.