Bossier Special Olympians take to the track and field for first time in 2 years

BENTON, La. (KSLA) — They were throwing bean bags, tennis balls and softballs and running 10, 25, 50 and 100 meters.

But most of all, the Special Olympians, their parents, the organizers and volunteers were having fun and were quite excited.

Preschool and elementary school athletes participated in Bossier Special Olympics on Thursday, April 7 in Benton. Middle school- and high school-age students will have their day Friday, April 8.

“We are celebrating after a two-year hiatus from COVID, the Special Olympians,” said Debbie Sites, an adapted physical education teacher. “We are so excited to be out here with our athletes, who are super excited.”

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The Special Olympians have been training on all of the events — the running, the jumping, the throwing — since January.

“It’s wonderful, amazing just to se how happy they are to participate with other schools and other athletes,” Sites said.

The Special Olympians do it for applause, the cheers, the high fives.

“They love it and they love being here,” said Barbara Choate, who also is an adapted PE teacher. “They get to be out of their schools for part of the day and come and be outside and come and run and use what they practiced.”

After the torch run and the parade of schools, the athletes competed in the 10-, 25-, 50 and 10-meter runs. There also was the standing long jump and the bean bag throw, softball throw and tennis ball throw.

“It’s the best day of the year,” Choate proclaimed. “It’s a blast. It’s worth all of the effort and we have fun doing it.”

Athletes who win their competitions qualify to go on to compete at the state and national levels if they wish to pursue that goal.

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