Special Olympics athletes gather for summer games

STILLWATER — Special Olympics athletes who gathered this week in Stillwater for the 48th annual summer games “are living life with no limits,” said Ella Lovelace, a special education teacher assistant at Lake Park Elementary in Bethany.

The games kicked off Wednesday, drawing more than 5,000 athletes from across Oklahoma.

“It is great getting to see all these athletes do their thing,” Lovelace said. She said Lake Park took about 20 students to the games.

“It is an awesome experience for people to come out and support these athletes,” said Edna Pittman, 40, of Oklahoma City.

She said her son, Demarion Pittman, was in a car accident and doctors said he would never walk again, but he won a gold medal in the 25-meter walk.

“Pirates: Sailing for the Gold” is the theme of this year’s summer games, emphasizing “pirate treasures” such as unity, respect and sportsmanship.

“It is fun to be here,” said Kandace Dudley, 9, a student at Lake Park. She is competing in softball and the 25-meter walk, and this is her second year at the games.

“I am super excited to be out here,” said Georgie Jaurnez, 8, from the Village Olympians, a group of about 20 competitors from The Village in the Oklahoma City metro area.

“I am going to have some fun and my mother is going to be so proud of me,” Jaurnez said.

Jakwon Littleton, 11, said he would be competing for The Village in a running event.

“I am ready to win,” he said.

Police officers and athletes brought in the Special Olympics torch to light the Flame of Hope.

More than 156 Oklahoma law enforcement agencies support Special Olympics, with many driving their police cars in the torch parade and bringing their mascots to the opening ceremony.

Athletes are competing in track and field, bocce, bowling, golf, horseshoes, power lifting, 3-on-3 basketball, unified softball and motor activities.

“You always get kind of tired. It is a lot of work to get this thing going, but when you get that first hug from an athlete … that is probably the best story,” said Jim Scott, games director for Oklahoma Special Olympics.

“It is all just one big family,” said Scott, who has been director for 21 years.

[PHOTOS BY ERIECH TAPIA, FOR THE OKLAHOMAN] LEFT: The Village Olympians attend the torch parade on Wednesday. RIGHT: Josie Kohn, 12, receives a stuffed animal from Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper Scott Patton.