Dozens of athletes from around the county competed in Gadsden County’s Special Olympics last week.
The event was held at Gadsden County High School on Wednesday, February 23.
The spectacle, ushered in by an Olympic Torch, featured track and field events.
Special Olympics is the world’s largest sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities and physical disabilities, providing year-round training and activities to 5 million participants and unified sports partners in 172 countries.
Locally, many parents, grandparents and other loved ones cheered from the stands as the athletes competed.
This year’s grand marshall was Preferia Pace, retired Havana Middle School Athletic Director.
Gadsden County High School student Liberty Gibson sang the national anthem, followed by Stewart Street Elementary School student Daveion Moore who led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Many of the participants, and some of the spectators, danced to music performed by Gadsden County High School’s marching band, as well as to tunes played by DJ Woadie.
The event was organized by Annie Trueblood, Special Olympics Gadsden Coordinator.
Tim Moseley (The Less Fortunate Still Matters Foundation), Marcus Thomas (Silver Star Lodge #61, Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office, Richbay WMS, and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. Tau Zeta Chapter of Quincy also helped make the event a success.
Erin Hill
