Nearly 800 athletes to participate in Special Olympics spring games

Sunday will be a day to shine at the Special Olympics spring games at Naperville's North Central College.

Nearly 800 athletes from DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, Kendall, Will and suburban Cook counties will participate in the track and field and power lifting events April 25 at the school's Benedetti-Wehrli Stadium.

Sometimes athletes shine by excelling at competition. Other times, it's the friendship and support they give each other that's worth as much as that gold medal.

"It's like they run 1,000 events because they're so involved with everybody else," said Hinsdale South head coach Kathy Craig.

Events start at 9 a.m. with opening ceremonies that include all 40 teams marching into the stadium, escorted by law enforcement officers carrying the flame of hope. Naperville's Mayor George Pradel and North Central College President Harold Wilde will speak.

Then the games begin with competitions in 50-, 100-, 200-, 400-, 800-, 1,500- and 3,000-meter runs, standing and running long jumps, shot put, tennis and softball throw, high jump, walk races, wheelchair competitions and assisted races.

The power lifting competition takes place in the neighboring Merner Fieldhouse.

"We're encouraging people to come out and be fans in the stands," said Barbara DiGuido, director of communications for the Special Olympics. "We're recommending people park downtown in one of the parking garages and walk to the stadium."

Athletes have been training for a minimum of eight weeks and compete in divisions according to capability level.

Gold medal winners are eligible to advance to the Special Olympics Illinois State Summer Games in June at Illinois State University.

Because track and field is less skills-specific than other Special Olympics sports such as basketball, Craig said many more athletes are able to get involved.

Craig has 25 athletes competing at the games who been practicing since the beginning of March.

"We have four track meets that we go to on weekends so the kids get the actual feel of going into the competition situation," Craig said. "When we started even the first day, they started asking, 'When's the college game? When's the college game?' They know that's the qualifying one. They know that's the big one."

For many of the athletes, the games are less about winning and more about enjoying the sport.

"Track practice makes me feel happy," said Hinsdale South team member Travis Roman.

"Track makes me feel good," said Michael McGraw, also a Hinsdale South athlete.

Special Olympics Illinois, a not-for-profit organization, offers year-round training and competition in 19 different sports for more than 20,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities. It provides the same for an additional 4,000 children ages 2 to 7 with and without intellectual disabilities.

Programs empower people with intellectual disabilities to realize their full potential in life and sports, according to the mission statement.

For information about Special Olympics or the spring games, call (630) 377-7250 or visit soill.org.

<p class="factboxheadblack">If you go </p>

<p class="News"><b>What:</b> Special Olympics spring games </p>

<p class="News"><b>When:</b> 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 25</p>

<p class="News"><b>Where:</b> North Central College, Naperville</p>

<p class="News"><b>Cost:</b> Free </p>

<p class="News"><b>Info:</b> (630) 377-7250 or <a href="http://soill.org" target="new">soill.org</a></p>