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Special Olympics Celebrates 50 Years in Oklahoma

facebook.com/specialolympicsoklahoma

Special Olympics is celebrating 50 years in Oklahoma with the Summer Games running through Friday in Stillwater.

Organizers expect about 5,500 athletes to take part in the games, which began at the University of Tulsa in 1969 with only track and field events.

Games Director Jim Scott says now in its 36th year in Stillwater, events are spread all over the city with the busiest day coming Thursday.

“We’ll be at the high school track doing our track and field, we’ll be out at the airport softball fields playing softball, Frontier Lanes bowling. We’ll be out at Lakeside Golf Course playing golf. We’ll be at the Colvin Annex with our motor activities program.”

Scott says this is a big deal for the athletes who train all year, and for the city of Stillwater welcoming more than 10,000 participants, coaches and volunteers, not to mention the spectators.

Festivities end Thursday night with the closing ceremonies and a dance, although there will also be more events on Friday.

For more information, you can visit the Special Olympics Oklahoma website at SOOK.org or find it on Facebook.

Michael Cross is the host of KOSU's Morning Edition.
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