Special Olympics fall games kick off in Cape Girardeau

A parade of 800 athletes marching through a red and white rubber arch Friday evening marked the start of the Special Olympics Missouri State Fall Games.

The athletes, who came from throughout the state, walked around the Show Me Center waving at a crowd of about 500 family, friends and fans. The opening ceremony was also highlighted by remarks from Gov. Jay Nixon and the lighting of the Flame of Hope with torches run in by Sgt. Kevin Orr and Cpl. Joey Hann, both of the Cape Girardeau Police Department.

Nixon said he gets to make a lot of speeches as governor, but it's not often he gets to say, "Good evening, Olympians."

The games, which include softball, bocci, tennis, golf and flag football, began Friday and continue through Sunday at various locations throughout Cape Girardeau.

Brandon Mize, 15, of Oak Ridge, is participating in softball, and his cousin, Eric Sanders, 27, of Cape Girardeau, in softball and bocci.

Sanders has been in Special Olympics since 2001 and Mize since 2007.

"It's the funnest thing I have ever thought about doing," Mize said.

The games are also a chance to be around friends and meet new people. "To me," Sanders said, "friends is more powerful than teammates."

Ty Metzger, a Cape Girardeau police patrolman, drove a 2014 Dodge Challenger into the center where it will be raffled off. Through the years, he has participated in the Torch Run and polar plunge, and last year he gave medals to the young athletes. His 9-year-old son Gabe has autism.

"It's been growing on me more and more each year," Metzger said of Special Olympics. He said he sees the athletes compete, "It's pretty overwhelming."

Emcee was Faune Riggin of KZIM-KSIM radio.

Leading the athletes' parade were the Knights of Columbus Color Guard, Southeast Missouri State University gymnastics team, Cape Girardeau Fire Department pipe and drum corps and Mrs. Missouri Kristie Kelley. American Legion Post 63 Honor Guard brought in the colors and Lisa Reitzel sang the National Anthem.

Mark Musso, CEO and president of Special Olympics Missouri, introduced Nixon as the honorary head coach of Special Olympics Missouri and said the governor has made Special Olympics a priority in his public life.

Nixon said he was joined by state Rep. Kathy Swan, R-Cape Girardeau, and Southeast president Ken Dobbins.

Nixon congratulated all the athletes and thanked the sponsors, volunteers, coaches and Special Olympics board members.

At the opening ceremony for the state summer games, Nixon invited Special Olympics athletes, coaches and supporters to complete "100 Missouri Miles" of physical activity by the end of the year.

"That night," he said, "100 Special Olympians signed up,"

followed by 10,000 Missourians. So far, 841,000 miles have been logged and the goal is 1 million, Nixon said.

On Friday, Nixon was joined by Special Olympians who hiked with him at Trail of Tears Park.

This is Cape Girardeau's fourth and final year hosting the fall games. But other events, such as bowling, will be held here and in area towns.

Mayor Pro Tem John Voss said there are 17,000 Special Olympians in Missouri who have earned 33,000 medals in the past year.

More than 35,000 volunteers, including 400 here, help put on these events. Voss noted that while the economic impact of hosting the games is obvious in Cape Girardeau, "it pales in comparison" to the real meaning of the games.

"The real impact for us is to roll out the red carpet to show what real Southeast [Missouri] hospitality is all about, and we get it back in buckets," Voss said.

Christie Shivelbine of Cape Girardeau said this is the second year she's attended the ceremony. Her favorite part is the athletes.

"I like the nature of it -- the athletes," Shivelbine said.

Wanda McCaulley of Dekalb, Mo., said she has a granddaughter and grandson competing and this is the first time she's attended.

"Oh, it's awesome," McCaulley said. "It's been such a blessing this year."

rcampbell@semissourian.com

388-3639

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1333 N. Sprigg St., Cape Girardeau, MO