SPECIAL AREA ATHLETES READY FOR SUMMER GAMES
Thursday, June 9th, 2005 -- 11:00 AM
A group of special area athletes will be in Stevens Point Thursday night for the opening ceremonies of the Wisconsin Special Olympics Summer Games. This year, 5 Neillsville/Granton area athletes will be among the 2,000 from around the state competing.
"Special Olympics is a sports training program for athletes with cognitive disablilities," explains Dean Glaze, who's coached Special Olympians for the past 25 years.
The Summer Games is probably the largest track and field competition in the state.
"I would encourage anyone to get over to St. Point and take a look. There will be close to 2,000 athletes there this weekend," Glaze says. The competition includes typical track and field events, but also some events designed for the disabled, such as wheelchair races.
Neillsville?s athletes range from 13 to 31-years-old. Glaze says the competition is very beneficial for the athletes involved.
"The sports end of it is good, but it's also just a fun social time."
Thursday night's opening ceremony will be held at Coleman Field on the UW-Stevens Point Campus.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.