Athletes Compete State-Wide at Special Olympics Texas Summer Games
The 47th annual Special Olympics Texas Summer Games offered more than 2,800 athletes with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to compete on a state-wide scale at the University of Texas at Arlington and surrounding venues May 26-29.
“This is the most amount of sports we put on in one weekend, at one area,” said Steve Helm, Special Olympics Texas public relations coordinator. “It’s a really great turnout year after year and we’re very fortunate to be here.”
More than 300 fundraising efforts throughout the year supported the 4-day competition, which is the largest event for Special Olympics Texas.
During the Games, athletes from more than 17 regional areas across Texas contend in track and field, basketball, cycling, soccer, tennis …show more content…
Sydney Weigand, an 18-year-old tennis player for the Round Rock Roadrunners, competed Friday and said her mindset was to just hit the ball, play hard and have fun.
Her favorite part about the games Friday: “Having fun with my friends,” she said.
At 7 p.m. Friday, the opening ceremony commemorated the athletes with music, a parade, dancing, a lighting of the caldron and speeches from guest speakers.
With all six sporting events continuing throughout the next day, Saturday proved to be the competition’s high-intensity day and a prime opportunity for visitors to experience what the Summer Games are all about, Helm said.
A number of teams came out victorious Saturday, including coach Drew Nelson’s Bay Area Heat basketball team. Nelson, also dean of Arts and Science at Alvin Community College, said that as an administrator and boss, the Special Olympics Texas Summer Games allowed him to bring out the best in people and gain a right perspective on the world.
“It just helps me differentiate how I treat people,” Nelson
The 47th annual Special Olympics Texas Summer Games offered more than 2,800 athletes with intellectual disabilities the opportunity to compete on a state-wide scale at the University of Texas at Arlington and surrounding venues May 26-29.
“This is the most amount of sports we put on in one weekend, at one area,” said Steve Helm, Special Olympics Texas public relations coordinator. “It’s a really great turnout year after year and we’re very fortunate to be here.”
More than 300 fundraising efforts throughout the year supported the 4-day competition, which is the largest event for Special Olympics Texas.
During the Games, athletes from more than 17 regional areas across Texas contend in track and field, basketball, cycling, soccer, tennis …show more content…
Sydney Weigand, an 18-year-old tennis player for the Round Rock Roadrunners, competed Friday and said her mindset was to just hit the ball, play hard and have fun.
Her favorite part about the games Friday: “Having fun with my friends,” she said.
At 7 p.m. Friday, the opening ceremony commemorated the athletes with music, a parade, dancing, a lighting of the caldron and speeches from guest speakers.
With all six sporting events continuing throughout the next day, Saturday proved to be the competition’s high-intensity day and a prime opportunity for visitors to experience what the Summer Games are all about, Helm said.
A number of teams came out victorious Saturday, including coach Drew Nelson’s Bay Area Heat basketball team. Nelson, also dean of Arts and Science at Alvin Community College, said that as an administrator and boss, the Special Olympics Texas Summer Games allowed him to bring out the best in people and gain a right perspective on the world.
“It just helps me differentiate how I treat people,” Nelson