Special Olympics kicks off

Special Olympics began this morning at Havre Middle School and was expected to see around 90 athletes test their skills in various events.

Mandy Hansen, a kindergarten teacher at Harlem Elementary School and volunteer coach with the Special Olympics, said Monday the ceremony begins with the athletes following a torch, U.S. Border Patrol agents and other law enforcement officers around the track.

"We're going to have about 90 competitors from all across the Hi-Line," Hansen said.

Competitors from Chinook, Harlem, Big Sandy, Shelby, Havre and other towns in the area will all attend the Special Olympics this year.

"They range from different ages," Hansen said. "The youngest is about 8 and the oldest in about 70 years old."

A guest speaker will also give a speech at the opening ceremony: Jamie Woods, the vice president of field service for the Special Olympics.

After the opening ceremony, the athletes began the track and field events, such as throwing, long jump, running and more.

Medals were set to be given out by Border Patrol agents in the middle school gymnasium after the track and field games end around noon.

"Then from there, we go over to the bowling alley around 2 or 3 o'clock and we do our bowling events," Hansen said.

The athletes will stay at the bowling alley until around 5:30 p.m. and around 6:30, there is a dance at the HRDC building on 5th Avenue.

"This is a build-up to the state games," Hansen said.

The state games will be in Billings May 13 to 16 and will have even more events, such as equestrian competitions and golfing.

Everyone gets to go, because everyone is a winner, Hansen said. For some competitors, the district games are the biggest competition they will attend, but the state competition in Billings is open to everyone.

"I'm actually amazed," Hansen said. "I don't teach them anything. They teach me how they give it their all. It's such a positive thing to be around."

Shaylee Lewis, from Havre High School, said the Havre Public Schools team has 14 competitors.

"This is the culmination of all of their practicing and many are preparing for state," Hansen said. "This is the big event for some athletes."

The torch run from Havre to Billings will begin 8 a.m. Friday.

"All of Montana is doing this, and everyone has to get their torches to Billings," Lewis said.

The athletes will be accompanied by law enforcement as they walk, run and hike all the way from the Havre Border Patrol Office to Great Falls, where they will pass off the torch.