A few thousand athletes with intellectual disabilities from across Iowa will be gathering in Ames this week for the 34th annual summer games of the Special Olympics. Games spokeswoman Stephanie Kocer says the opening ceremony will be held Thursday night at Hilton Coliseum.
Kocer says the competitions run through Saturday and are the highlight of the year for many hundreds of the participants.
This year is a special one as the games are marking their 50th anniversary.
Special Olympics was started by Eunice Kennedy Shriver in 1968. Today it is the largest sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
