The 2013 Red River Special Olympics were held at the Durant Multi-Sports Complex on Wednesday and Special Olympic participants gathered to show off their talents at the Red River Special Olympics Track and Field meet.
Independent competitors, as well as student from Madill, Calera, Kingston, Antlers, Atoka, Achille, Rock Creek, Durant Schools and Marietta, participated in many events.
The event was made possible by the Oklahoma Special Olympics and volunteers. Several groups such as local Boy Scouts, Kiamichi Tech Center, SE Athletics Department and Southeastern Electric Coop. volunteered at the event.
The Durant Fire Department and the Bryan County Emergency Medical Services also volunteered their services.
Volunteers helped coordinate and judge competitions as well as helping with participants. Some participating schools also brought cheerleaders to encourage all participants.
Southeastern Electric Coop. assembled the “Young Athletes, Stars of the Future,” competitions for children eight years old and younger.
According to Patty Shackleford of the Red River Olympics, Southeastern Athletic Department has been a large supporter of the events for several years.
“We couldn’t do it without Southeastern,” said Shackleford.
She said that Southeastern’s chair of Health, Physical Education and Recreation Vicki Hudson brings SE students out every year to help with the event.
Local Boy Scout troops also assisted with the games and even ran beside the track at times to encourage participants to keep trying.
The day consisted of several events for participants to compete in including running events, long jump events, softball tosses and Javelin throwing.
Shackleford said many of the participant are preparing for the Summer Special Olympics in Stillwater this May.
While not all of the participants will go, some work all year to participate in the summer games, said Shackleford.
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