The University of Mississippi will host the Area 4 Special Olympics track and field events today from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Ole Miss track.
The 325 athletes who will be competing range in age from 6 to 60 and will compete in events such as track, softball throw, running and standing long jump, horseshoes, wheelchair events and bocce, Area 4 Coordinator Terry Shinall said.
"This is their chance to display their skills and abilities," Shinall said. "They've been training year-round just like you or I would."
The university provides the location and the majority of the volunteers for the event, according to Mike Dupper, associate professor of health and exercise science.
The Health and Exercise Science Department is in charge of getting the volunteers, he said.
There will be about 250 volunteers this year, Dupper said.
The volunteers will help with everything from serving lunch to measuring distances to handing out ribbons, he said.
Dupper, who has been involved with Special Olympics since 1979, said he does it because he enjoys working with the kids.
Not only is the event fun for everyone involved, but it also helps to promote health and fitness, he said.
"The state of Mississippi has the highest rate of obesity, so we want to promote health and fitness," Dupper said. "It also gives them a chance to visit the university."
Liz Pascale, a senior exercise science ma jor from Manassas, Va., has been helping Dupper coordinate the event all semester.
Like Dupper, she said she enjoys working with the athletes.
"Volunteering for this event is a really fun and great way to meet people" Pascale said. "The athletes really appreciate and enjoy this event."
However, the athletes are not the only ones who benefit from this experience.
Andrew Jeffreys, a junior exercise science major from Coffeeville, is also looking forward to his second year of volunteering for the Special Olympics.
"I really like helping the kids do things that they normally would not do, and I like to see the smiles on their faces" Jeffreys said.
This event is a great way for the athletes to meet other students like them, Dupper said.
They also get a chance to meet Ole Miss athletes, who come out and sign autographs and encourage participation, he said.
"It's a good opportunity for these athletes to interact with college athletes and vice versa" Jeffreys said.
The winners from the area's Special Olympics will advance to the state games, but this event is not all about winning, Dupper said.
"Obviously they can't all win the blue ribbon, but we try to make all of them feel like winners" Dupper said.
