The Pennsylvania Special Olympics returned to our region earlier this weekend for their Central Fall Sectional. Our Zac Kaye was in Huntingdon County and has more on what this event means to all those involved
The 27th annual Pennsylvania Special Olympics Central Fall Sectional at Juniata College on Sunday featured more than 500 athletes competing
Regardless of the stress or anything behind the scenes. It’s just the main goal is making sure the athletes are having a great time and they always seem like they’re having a great time.
“They are cheering. They’re all really excited.”
The event is completely run by hundreds of volunteers, and They says every athletic team at Juniata College helps out.
“We don’t have to pull teeth to get them to be here. They always show up. They always show up with a smile and they’re all just all really excited to be here and share the sport and the sports that they love to play and share
that with other people.”
There were six individual and team sports including Soccer, Long Distance Running and Bocce.
“This is the first time that I’ve actually been playing Bocce with my daughter. She’s, she’s the main athlete. She’s what it’s all about.”
Heckman says this is something his daughter and all the other athletes look forward to each and every year.
“This is something they don’t normally get to do in school or anything like that this is just special for the athletes here. Even if they lose, they’re still happy because they’re out doing something they don’t get to do.”