Special Olympics athletes to compete this weekend

By Owen Boss

Staff Writer

Special Olympics athletes will compete in a variety of sporting events around the region during Special Olympics Massachusetts' 25th annual August Tournament.

Special Olympics spokeswoman Kirsten Goulet said more than 900 athletes from across the state are expected to travel to the Pioneer Valley to join the more than 100 local competitors this weekend.

Among them will be 28-year-old Lee Gagner, of Robin Road in Easthampton, who said he looks forward to participating in the tournament every year and has competed in one sport or another each of the last 15 years.

Although he only plans to compete in Saturday's bocce tournament, Gagner said he also enjoys playing volleyball, floor hockey and soccer and enjoys meeting new friends and getting the chance to compete against other special needs athletes.

The tournament allows Special Olympics athletes from across the region to test their skills in bocce, softball, golf, cycling and fishing competitions. Some of the athletes competing at the weekend-long event, Goulet said, recently returned from the 2010 Special Olympic National Games in Lincoln, Neb.

"SOMA athletes always look forward to competing in the August Tournament," said Special Olympics Massachusetts' President and CEO, Robert Johnson. "The event gives athletes a chance to form friendships with teammates that may have never occurred without the competition. We are proud to host an event that encourages equality and inclusion."

Weekend Schedule

The public is welcome to watch the contests. The schedule is as follows:

· On Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., bocce and traditional softball will be played in Easthampton's Nonotuck Park, located along Daley Field Road. Also Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. a cycling competition will be held at Swift River Elementary School in Belchertown, located at 57 State Street.

· A fishing competition will take place at the Quabbin Saturday. Athletes will launch their boats into the Quabbin Reservoir at 8:30 a.m. and return at 1 p.m. Residents attending the fishing event should enter the reservoir using Gate 8, which is located on Route 202 in Belchertown.

· Also, in Springfield, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Special Olympics competitors will play unified softball at Blunt Park on Roosevelt Avenue. Unified softball is for athletes 13 and older who have developmental disabilities but know the basics of the game. In order to compete, they play side-by-side with non-disabled partners.

· Sunday, starting at 10 a.m., more bocce will be played in Nonotuck Park in Easthampton

· Also Sunday, at 10 a.m., golfers will tee off at Stow Acres Country Club, located at 58 Randall Road in Stow.

For more information about the tournament or Special Olympics Massachusetts, see www.specialolympicsma.org/august.

Owen Boss can be reached at oboss@gazettenet.com