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sports:
special olympics
Special athletes
come to compete at CSULB
By Mike Haubrich
Summer On-line Forty-Niner
The 32nd Annual
Special Olympics Summer Games will be held this weekend at
Cal State Long Beach, beginning Friday night with an opening
ceremony celebration at the Pyramid and culminating Sunday
with closing ceremonies on campus.
Over 4,000 athletes,
coaches and volunteers will participate in the event, which
is being held at CSULB for the third consecutive year. Admission
and parking are free.
Athletes will compete
in seven events: aquatics, athletics (track and field), basketball,
bocce, golf, gymnastics and tennis. All events will be held
at CSULB, except for the golf event, which will take place
at Little Recreation Golf Course in Long Beach.
The opening ceremony
will begin Friday at 7 p.m. at the Pyramid, and will include
welcoming addresses from CSULB President Robert Maxson and
Long Beach Mayor Beverly O'Neill. Rafer Johnson, the 1960
Olympic gold medal-winning decathlete who was essential in
bringing Special Olympics to Southern California, will officially
open the Special Olympics.
Competitions will
begin on Saturday, starting at 8 a.m. and continuing until
4 p.m. Sunday competitions begin at 8 a.m. and continue through
2 p.m. Medal ceremonies will take place thoughout the weekend.
In addition to
the athletic events on both days, visitors and participants
can visit Sports Expo Park, an on-site venue that will offer
continuous live entertainment, sports demos and clinics, food
booths, and interactive games.
The Special Olympics
will conclude at 2 p.m. Sunday, with a closing ceremony celebration
held at Sports Expo Park. Awards will be handed out to outstanding
and inspirational athletes. The participants will join together
one final time to form the symbolic Circle of Friendship,
and Johnson will re-light the Olympic Torch as doves are released
over Sports Expo Park to officially end the Special Olympics.
Special
Olympics schedule
Friday, June
15
7
Pyramid (Opening Ceremony)
Saturday, June
16
8-8
Baseball Field
8-8
Discus Field
8-8
Outdoor Courts
8-8
Rugby Field
8-8
Soccer Field
8-8
Softball Field
8-8
Tennis Courts
8-8
Track/Discus
8-8
Ukleja Room
8-8
West Gymnasium
8-11
Pyramid
2-10
236 Foyer (Information)
2-10
Center Courtyard (Live Entertainment)
2-10
Long Beach Ballroom (Dance)
2-10
Mall 1st Floor (Medical Service Area)
5-10
B/W Checkered
5-10
Billiards Area
5-10
Bowling Area
5-10
Table Tennis
6-10
Lobby Plaza (Registration)
6-10
South Plaza (Live Band)
Sunday, June
17
8-8
Baseball Field
8-8
Discus Field
8-8
Outdoor Courts
8-8
Rugby Field
8-8
Soccer Field
8-8
Softball Field
8-8
Tennis Courts
8-8
Track/Discus
8-8
Ukleja Room
8-8
West Gymnasium
8-11
Pyramid
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