CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - There were smiles and cheers Thursday morning as 1,500 athletes from 70 communities gathered once again to light the cauldron and kick off this year's Special Olympics Spring Games.
"We're so excited to be back. Great energy. So great to see the athletes and the coaches after so long," said Kevin Magnuson, Special Olympics Chicago board member and master of ceremonies.
The athletes anxiously awaited their call in the tunnel under the stands at Soldier Field including 52-year-old Danny Bauer, who is a runner. He has been participating in the Special Olympics games for 15 years.
"‘Are you ready?’ "Yes, I'm ready," smiled Bauer, who's competing in the 200-yard dash, shot put and relay.
After two years away because of the pandemic, he can't wait to get back on the field.
"This is so great. I love being back with my friends. It's getting crowded!" as he looks around.
Bauer said he's collected lots of medals and ribbons over the years.
"Oh boy, I've gotten so many, I can't even count," he laughed. "I probably have 300 medals and I'm ready for more," he smiled. Bauer and his fellow athletes practice at Shabbona Park January through May each year.
Katie Kettering's 24-year-old son Charlie has been a special Olympics athlete since he was 8- years-old.
"My son has Down's Syndrome and he's deaf and he doesn't speak, but Mount Greenwood Park, where he participates, has just been a Godsend." she said. Charlie Kettering will compete in the 50-meter run and the softball throw.
"You have to come to the events because you will smile, you'll cry. No matter what the kids do, if they win a medal or a ribbon, just the fact that they did what they were supposed to do, that they practiced. It's just wonderful." said Kettering, who gets emotional thinking about what the Special Olympics has done for her son.
"It's just awesome," she choked back tears. "It's just awesome."
Special Olympics Chicago athletes will compete in more than 25 track and field events throughout Spring Games, which will take place at Eckersall Stadium, May 9- May 11 from 10:30 am – 12:30 pm, weather permitting. The events are free and open to the public.
Athletes 8-years of age and older will compete in 50, 100, 200, 800 and 1,500, and 3,000-meter races. They will also compete in standing long jump, running long jump, shot put, softball throw, high jump, tennis ball throw, pentathlon, 100, 400 and 800-meter road races. Wheelchair events include 25 and 100-meter races, a 30-meter slalom, softball throw, tennis ball throw and shot put.
"It's all about showing up and doing the best they can. From track and field, to Bocce, to tennis, to you name it, they're going to be doing it," smiled Magnuson.
"It's an important part of these athletes’ lives and their families’ lives. What they do out there is pretty special."
The first International Special Olympics Games were held on July 20, 1968 at Soldier Field in Chicago.
Listen to WBBM Newsradio live here.
Related
