Colquitt County Spring Special Olympics reels in major community participation

The Colquitt Area Springtime Unique Olympics had more than 360 professional athletes and also unified companions joining its regional video games and also greater than 150 pupil volunteers assisting run occasions as well as assisting at Olympics Town Friday, March 31.

The games are held two times a year, in the winter months and spring terms and are handled by P.J. Jones and Mitchell McKinney, the regional planners for Colquitt County's Unique Olympics.

The Springtime Gamings opened with a parade of athletes as well as flags complied with by a brief welcome from Assistant Superintendent of Pupil Services Dr. Irma Townsend.

The Unified Cheer Team, led by instructors Elizabeth Kennedy, Anna Ensley, and CCHS trainee Ada Sutton, took the court with a few perky chants. The team was composed of Mary Weems, Ivey Flowers, Danielle Nichols, Yana Wilson, Sara Cooper, Chandler Horne, Elegance Coston, Ashley Almond, Anabelle Gonzalez as well as Gracie Hammock.

The Colquitt Area High School ROTC conducted the Discussion of Colors and also equipment Center fifth-grade pupils sang the nationwide anthem.

Willie J Williams Intermediate school athletes Rayne Black as well as Zemiah Deal formally kickstarted the video games as they lit the Special Olympics Flame of Hope. Both were escorted by Colquitt Area Constable's Workplace Investigator Kat Johnson.

The Dream Squad from Charlie A Gray Intermediate School additionally relocated the group with their efficiency. The squad is trained by Tiffanie Youthful, Chioma Simpson and also Kyomasha Collier.

This year's Spring Games had a huge increase in neighborhood organization involvement, the regional organizers stated in a meeting after the opening event.

"This is my favorite season. The games are such a blessing as well as bring such happiness to these children. I'm proud we have the ability to have these games every year with the community's support. We have actually been hosting these for concerning 30 years or even more now," said Amanda Horne, the executive director of the program for remarkable children.

The professional athletes completed in a collection of video games across the CCHS Packer Park school including, bocce, degree A sporting activities, group soccer, team softball and also young professional athletes. Professional Athletes from Eco-friendly Oaks, Albany ARPD, as well as Grady Area contended in the city 14 Gamings.

The planners recognized individuals in 5 classifications throughout the opening event. The Colquitt County Special Olympics Coach of the Year honor went to Katie Reed. Marley Kelley, a seventh from WJW, was presented the 2022-2023 Unified Partner of the Year honor and Breanna Vera Perez took home the Professional athlete of the Year award.

Dr. Christie Simpson got the Adult Volunteer of the Year award and Publix of Moultrie obtained the Neighborhood Volunteer of the Year award.

Athletes Ivey Flowers and also Alexis Brown obtained awards in remembrance of two previous athletes. Flowers was honored with the Smiley Award and Brown was bestowed the Love like Lilly Award.

The Olympic Community had cubicles with games, crafts, inflatables as well as face painting. Numerous charitable companies and also over 150 trainee volunteers ran the town including pupils from GEAR, C.A. Gray, WJW, 4-H Christian Academy, YMCA, Colquitt Regional Medical Center, Boys and Girls Club of Moultrie, Hearts for Family Members, Never Shed, Hero House, Calmness Residence, NAMI of Moultrie, the Breathe Organization, Moultrie Federated Guild, United Means of Colquitt County, the Red Cross and also Easter Seals.