Rain forces cancellation of Special Olympics softball, flag football

Most of the ballgames and medals were rained out, but the party went on Saturday at the Special Olympics State Fall Games, a spokesman said Sunday.

Heavy rains Saturday forced organizers to cancel most of the softball games and all but one of the flag football games, said Brandon Schatsiek, public relations coordinator for Special Olympics Missouri.

"Softball is our biggest sport, so canceling that, a lot of our athletes didn't get to participate in anything," Schatsiek said.

To make it up to them, organizers ran the Saturday night dance a half-hour longer than originally planned, he said.

"At least they got to hang out and go party with their friends," Schatsiek said.

Some were disappointed they wouldn't have a chance to compete, but medals really aren't the point of Special Olympics, he said.

"They are in a place where they can be included and have a good time, and nobody's judging them," Schatsiek said.

He said one coach who had traveled several hours to bring his team to the games was unhappy that they weren't able to play a single game the whole weekend, but he felt better about the trip as he watched the athletes make friends and socialize at the dance.

"He kind of got choked up and [said] just seeing this and seeing how our athletes are interacting ... the eight-hour drive was totally worth it," Schatsiek said.

Athletes managed to get in one flag football game and one full softball game before the rain began around 10:30 a.m. Saturday, he said.

"We got in at least one game, and that was the one that was broadcast on the local ESPN affiliate," Schatsiek said. "We started most of the other ones, and that's when the skies opened up."

Schatsiek said Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation workers were willing to help prepare the diamonds after the rain, but it would have taken several truckloads of dirt just to get two fields ready, and there just wouldn't have been time to get them into playing condition and play all the games before athletes and coaches had to begin their trips back home.

"It was a very hard decision," Schatsiek said. "We originally said we were just going to hold off and wait until 4 [p.m.] ... but the amount of rain that came down, it made most of the fields simply unplayable."

Schatsiek said about 1,100 athletes turned out for the event. He did not have information about how the games or the cancellations affected the local economy, but he said many athletes who had booked hotel rooms for the weekend went ahead and stayed for the Saturday activities, which included free physicals and dental screenings and a carnivallike expo.

The sports scheduled for Friday were unaffected, he said.

"Bocce, tennis and golf all went off without a hitch Friday," Schatsiek said. "All three of those sports were started and completed, and it was a beautiful day."

Organizers move the fall games every four years, Schatsiek said. This was Cape Girardeau's last year as host. The games will move to Jefferson City, Mo., next year, he said.

epriddy@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent address:

Cape Girardeau, Mo.