Torch run heralds spring competition
Athletes and police joined Thursday to launch the spring Special Olympics competition in Spokane with a torch run through downtown and around the city.
Some ran and some walked from Riverfront Park to the site of the former Safeway store at Fourth Avenue and Maple Street.
Excited participants talked about the joy of running, walking and participating in other athletic events.
They carried the torch side-by-side with members of the Spokane Police Department and Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, including Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich.
Robin Ainsworth competes in several walking races as well as throwing the shot put, but her favorite event is the 100-meter dash relay because she does it with a team.
“We get to hand off and give the baton to someone else,” said Ainsworth, who is from the Spokane area.
More than 600 athletes will attend opening ceremonies and a dance Friday night at the Mirabeau Park Hotel and compete Saturday in the spring Special Olympics games.
Events include track and field competition, swimming, cycling and weight lifting. The bulk of the competition will be held at Spokane Community College, with cycling at Central Valley School District’s administration building.
Athletes at Thursday’s torch run participate in the Community Colleges of Spokane PACE program, which trains them and helps them find jobs, said coach Jody Lentes.
“It’s fun,” said competitor Sandy Wiedeman.
Wiedeman usually completes Bloomsday, but is passing this year because of the entry fee. Special Olympics provides her a chance to flex her athletic muscle.
The Special Olympics motto – Motivate. Inspire. Succeed. – speaks to the impact the games have on developmentally disabled athletes who have fun and gain confidence through training and competition.
“It gives them a chance to be in the limelight a bit and to socialize with each other,” said coach Reggie Smith.
Gold medal winners from this weekend’s east region competition will move on to the summer Special Olympics games in June in Tacoma.