As the sun was warming up at 9:30 a.m., hundreds of people gathered in the Cuesta College gym to watch the opening ceremonies. The athletes worked hard for this day all year, in hopes of winning the gold medal.
It was time once again for the San Luis Obispo County Special Olympics to host its Spring Regional Games.
The ceremony ended with the common starter, “Let the games begin,” announced by Doug Danner, an elderly athlete from OPTIONS Family of Services, a community service organization focused on helping special needs residents in the Central Coast.
Approximately 400 athletes competed in the Spring Regional Games May 6. The games took place from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The Spring Regional Games, previously known as the Area Meet, invite athletes from San Luis Obispo County and several surrounding areas (including Santa Barbara) to compete. This is the biggest local competition, in which approximately 65 athletes are selected to compete in the Summer Regional Games Tournament at Long Beach State next month.
At the Spring Regional Games, the athletes compete in aquatics, bocce, track and field events, basketball and Motor Activity Training Programs (MATP).
The athletes who participated ranged from elementary school students to senior citizens. Danner said he was excited to be the one to start the event.
“I competed in two events, the softball throw and the 50-meter walk,” Danner said. “I got silver medals in both, and had a lot of fun.”
Others, including Kelly Knox, the day program coordinator at OPTIONS, said coaching and preparing for this event has been a great experience.
“OPTIONS serves adults with developmental disabilities and events like these help to get them out into the community,” Knox said.
Knox said OPTIONS was only one of the many programs in attendance at the event.
Since the event was free, many students from Cuesta and Cal Poly attended the events for class credit. Jessica Daub, a student at Cuesta College, said she attended the event with friends to see the happenings and enjoy the nice weather.
“I thought it was a fun opportunity to come and support a great program,” Daub said. “I love seeing the athletes win and get their medal. You can tell they have been working really hard.”
Not only were the athletes encouraged by attendees, but also by volunteers and the positive atmosphere felt throughout the event. The Special Olympics coordinators in Southern California and San Luis Obispo County set up large motivational quotes throughout the college campus.
One of these quotes of inspiration read, “Let me win, but if I cannot win let me be brave in the attempt.”