Contact: Maridith Geuder
More than 100 competitors are expected at Mississippi State University Thursday [Nov. 11] for a Special Olympics volleyball match.
The 9 a.m.-1 p.m. public event in the Newell-Grissom Building is part of the state program that enables more than 10,000 participants to train and compete in a variety of sports.
Internationally, Special Olympics serves more than 1.2 million children and adults with mental retardation. Established in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the program has offices in every state and more than 140 countries to coordinate year-round training and competition.
The MSU competition is being coordinated by Andy Gillentine and Clay Daughtrey, faculty members in the department of physical education, health, recreation, and sport.
Gillentine, a 20-year Special Olympics volunteer, said all athletes must complete an eight-week training schedule before becoming eligible for further competition.
"They compete at the local and area levels to advance to the chapter level," he said. "From there, teams may qualify to advance to regional and international levels."
Daughtrey said Special Olympics appeals to him because it offers "sport in its purest form.
"Placing first or last doesn't matter," he added. "Participants have a sense of accomplishment regardless of how they do."