Area athletes gather for Special Olympics

Cheers could be heard Saturday throughout the Southeast Missouri State University Recreation Center--North as friends, family and volunteers cheered on Special Olympics athletes.

About 350 athletes from across the state came together for the spring games, and spring games director Penny Williams said she couldn't be happier with the turnout.

"Everything went great," Williams said. "We started with the parade of athletes, and athletes all march in and we announce their name. ... This is just an example of one event that we do, as track and field, of course, it's the most notable event. It gets a lot of visibility, but we also just finished basketball season."

Throughout the year, the Special Olympics hosts sporting events for its competitors, from softball in the summer to bocce and bowling in the fall, there's always a sport in which to participate.

"The great thing about Special Olympics is that people of all ability levels get the chance to do their best and know what that feels like," Williams said. "It increases their self esteem and makes them feel just like everybody else, and everybody deserves that feeling. So I am very proud that we got the opportunity to do that."

Brian Austin competes in the softball throw event during the Missouri Special Olympics Southeast Area Spring Games Saturday, April 11, 2015 at the Student Recreation Center of Southeast Missouri State University. (Glenn Landberg)

Williams couldn't talk for more than a few minutes without being congratulated by a passing coach or family member of an athlete. Having been the coordinator for multiple years Williams is close to a lot of the volunteers.

Southeast Missouri State University student Elizabeth Foster has been a volunteer with Special Olympics for about eight years, and returns because of how rewarding she said she finds the whole day.

Saturday afternoon Foster could be seen at the shot-put event, marking where the shots were thrown, measuring them from the throwing line, and cheering as each competitor threw. Over and over, she cheered with her fellow volunteers.

"I think it's really rewarding watching how happy they are, and that just makes you happy and wanting to keep doing it," she said.

Foster is a member of the Southeast Greek organization Alpha Delta Pi, one of the many who volunteered at Saturday's events. With 15 different agencies attending the games, each group was assigned a Greek organization, making sure every athlete had the proper support system.

"A lot of these guys -- their families can't travel with them, so I always explain to the Greek students about why it's so important to cheer for them," Williams said. "They don't get to do this in the public school systems. They don't get the opportunity to wear a uniform and travel with the team and win with their friends, but because we provide this, they do."

Along with shot put, events ranged from the 25-meter run to the 1,500-meter run, a wheelchair obstacle course, running long jump, tee-ball throw and a variety of swimming races.

Ute Smith has worked with Special Olympics for 18 years. For the last four months she's been preparing her 15 local athletes for today's events.

"It's just been wonderful," Smith said. "It's a great facility that we have here, and just being able to utilize the facility and both the athletes and parents love cheering them on. We've had more spectators today then we've had in awhile."

All of Smith's Olympians advanced Saturday to the state games in Springfield, Missouri, which will take place in May.

Community fundraising is what makes the spring games possible, Williams explained. Through events such as the Polar Plunge and annual softball tournament, nearly $60,000 was raised this year to support the athletes.

smaue@semissourian.com

388-3644

Pertinent address:

750 New Madrid St., Cape Girardeau