Weather tops Hi-Line Special Olympics, athletes will attend State

The spring weather may be upon us in Havre, but the harsh, long winter in the North Central part of Montana has caused yet another sporting event to be canceled this month but athletes still will be able to compete in the state games.

The Havre Special Olympics team, which is part of the Great Northern Area of the Montana Special Olympics and consists of athletes from high school-age to 70 years old, was set to host the Great Northern Spring Games, April 25 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

This year, though, the games have fell victim to the harsh winter weather. The unpredictable weather, coupled with the participants’ lack of time to practice and the track not being game-ready after the snow, has forced the track meet to be canceled, said Dave Carlson, one of the organizers of the Havre Special Olympics.

“The participants usually have about six weeks to practice before the games,” Carlson said, “the athletes were not able to practice (because of the long winter) and it would not be safe.”

The Great Northern Spring Games, which are annually held at Havre Middle School, bring athletes from around the Hi-Line. The athletes and their families enjoy a day of outside games as well as socializing events.

Special Olympic volunteer Mardele Toth said that they had to cancel it instead of reschedule the games because the Special Olympic State Games are coming soon; they will be held in Great Falls May 15-18.

The state games will have competitions in 11 events and will include more than 1,000 athletes from all over Montana. The teams from the Great Northern Area will still be attending the state tournament since the Special Olympic organization gave the teams affected by weather special permission to use last year’s qualifying times.

North Star High School Track Coach Brian Campbell and his team have invited the Special Olympic athletes to practice with them to prepare for the State Tournament, said Carlson.

The bowling portion of the local games will still be held this week, Wednesday at 3 p.m. The bowling tournament will be held at Harvest Lanes, said Carlson, and will include teams from Havre, Chinook,Harlem, Chester and Turner. Malta usually has a team that participates, but because of sickness they will not be able to attend this year.

Following the bowling, there will be a pizza party, presentation of awards and a dance that will be held in the bar area of the bowling alley. No alcohol will be served during the presentation and dance.