A shining sun and whipping wind greeted some 400 competitors, their coaches and fans Saturday for the Southeast Area Special Olympics held at Abe Stuber Track and Field Complex at Southeast Missouri State University.

Special Olympics events are held at the local, state and national levels to provide mentally or developmentally disabled people of all ages an opportunity to compete in athletic events. Participants practice -- sometimes year-round -- to prepare for running, jumping and throwing competitions in one or more of the 13 local Olympic events.

Roughly half of the athletes competing Saturday will advance to state-level competition held at Fort Leonardwood in mid-May.

Participants compete in athletic heats based upon age, gender and training scores. Much like the regular Olympic games, athletes can consider themselves winners by virtue of the fact they participated. However, unlike in the other Olympics, every Special Olympics participant goes home with a medal or ribbon.

"These kids deserve the opportunity to compete just like any other athlete, and we reward them for being here," said Penny Blandford, Southeast area director. "Every year the program continues to grow. For them, it is the real thing."

About 350 volunteers were on hand to make the day run smoothly by doing everything from parking cars to running races with athletes needing assistance. Packing the stadium's seating area were parents, grandparents and siblings ready to cheer their athletes on.

Mary Kennedy of Cape Girardeau was on hand to watch her grandson Patrick, 16, compete. She said they have been walking daily at a local gym to help prepare Patrick for his event, the 100-meter walk.

"We work out on a treadmill, and he fell yesterday and roughed up his knees a little bit, but he's ready to go today," she said. "We're both very excited because it's our first time here."

Some volunteers, like university gymnast Jen Leaman, were athletes who understood the need to prepare mentally and physically before a big event. Leaman helped 11-year old Emily Huffman of Cape Girardeau prepare for her first event, the 50-meter run, by stretching and talking about the race.

Although Emily was the last runner in her heat to cross the finish line, Leaman was waiting with a hug and smile. As for Emily, she was very proud of the ribbon she received and grinned as her nervous father put down the video camera and pinned the ribbon to her t-shirt.

"I did good," said Emily, giving the thumbs-up sign to Leaman.

David and Jeri Huffman, Emily's parents, said they had been unable to get their daughter involved with Special Olympics before this year. It's a good experience for participants, they said, because they develop confidence when they compete.

"We mainly wanted to put her in it, not because we thought she'd win, but because we knew it would help her self-esteem," said Jeri Huffman. "She's really happy to be here."