NORMAL, Ill. (WMBD) — More than 100 Team Illinois athletes are on the highway.
The Illinois Special Olympics group headed to the Special Olympics USA Games in Florida Friday afternoon.
The occasion occurs as soon as each 4 years. The Special Olympics Illinois senior area director, Tracy Hilliard, stated they’re returning in-person for the primary time in two years.
“Bouncing back from COVID-19, everyone is so excited to have an event of this size. It’s very exciting,” stated Hilliard.
However, Hilliard stated that is simply the tip of the iceberg for Team Illinois. In two weeks, Special Olympics Illinois is internet hosting its State Summer Games 2022. The occasion returns in particular person for the primary time in two years.
“Everyone’s ready to be back in person,” Hilliard stated. “It’s such an uplift for everybody, and that boost you need to get going again.”
She stated greater than 2,600 athletes will compete in seven sports activities on Illinois State University’s (ISU) campus and at Normal Community High and Kingsley Junior High.
Brian McWhorter, a powerlifter within the group, stated the occasion is a dream come true.
“It means the world to me, I’ve been training for this pretty much all my life,” stated McWhorter.
The Special Olympics has helped McWhorter in additional methods than one.
“It’s changed my life completely,” he stated, “to be a better competitor.”
ISU is house to the Summer Games for the reason that Nineteen Seventies, in accordance to Media Relations Director Eric Jome. It’s all the time a crowd-pleaser, he stated, and a heartfelt custom that pulls a giant crowd.
“It’s really a transformational event for a lot of these athletes, and really for a lot of the people that volunteer for this,” Jome stated.