Officials with this weekend's Minnesota Special Olympics Summer Games at the U of M are taking extra precautions due to the expected heat
Spokewoman Emily Carr says they'll be monitoring the heat index and are prepared to postpone events if it hits a certain threshold.
"We've got all sorts of medical staff at each venue over the course of the weekend," says Carr, " We are working very closely with the University of Minnesota medical team as well and we have water at every location.
The Twin Cities metro area is under an Excessive Heat Warning this weekend, indicating dangerously hot conditions.
Since its 1973 founding, Special Olympics Minnesota has been a leader in advocating for the inclusion of individuals with intellectual disabilities, offering robust athletic, health, and school programs.
Key milestones include hosting the 1991 Special Olympics World Games in the Twin Cities and initiating the first Polar Plunge in 1998.
As of this year the organization engages over 8,100 Minnesotans with intellectual disabilities across 17 different sports.