Send-off for Special Olympians set for Friday

Thirteen area delegates are among 125 athletes and coaches from Special Olympics Missouri who will complete next week in the 2014 Special Olympics, taking place in New Jersey.

A send-off of the Southeast Missouri competitors will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday at Banterra Bank, 1650 N. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau. The public is invited.

The area athletes are among 3,500 from throughout the United States who will compete in 21 events ranging from aquatics and track and field to powerlifting and golf. The competition will take place in Mercer County, with many events on the campus of Princeton University.

The progress of the Missouri team may be followed during the competition via a mobile app by searching "special Olympics Missouri" or "somo" at the Apple App or Google Play stores.

Banterra Bank is selling tickets to Cape Girardeau Night at Busch Stadium, Aug. 2, when the St. Louis Cardinals take on the Milwaukee Brewers. Tickets are $25 and a portion of the proceeds will benefit Special Olympics-Missouri. Tickets are available at the bank.