SOMO Summer Games continues Saturday in Columbia

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The 2023 Special Olympics Missouri (SOMO) State Summer Games continues in Columbia on Saturday with two events at Hickman High School.

The three-day competition is set to bring more than 1,000 athletes, coaches, volunteers and others to the area.

The organization kicked off an opening ceremony on Friday night at the Mizzou Rec, plus held swimming and volleyball competitions on the opening day. Saturday's events including track and field and powerlifting. The weekend is also filled with fun activities for the athletes including Saturday night's dance and bingo.

"If Special Olympics was never made, I don't think people like me or anybody like me around the world would ever get the chance to be doing what they're doing right now," said SOMO powerlifter Adam Briggs.

While this event provides an opportunity for children and adults with intellectual disabilities to compete, it's also a good place for them to make new connections throughout the state of Missouri.

"I don't know all these people and where they're from," said SOMO powerlifter Florica Gault. "I like to meet them and hang out with them and their families." 

"It felt very good knowing that there were so many people supporting us and everybody was so kind," said SOMO powerlifter Lauren Cook.

The 2023 Summer Games will wrap up Sunday afternoon with one final round of track and field events at Hickman High School from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.