From staff reports
news@joplinglobe.com
About 1,600 people from across the state are in Joplin this weekend to participate in the state indoor championships of Special Olympics.
Featured sports are bowling, volleyball and flag football.
The event opened Friday night with registration, the parade of athletes and opening ceremonies at the Holiday Inn.
Activities today will start with bowling contests at 8 a.m. at Fourth Street Bowl and Bowl East in Joplin and Star Lanes in Carthage. Volleyball is scheduled at the gym at Ozark Christian College and flag football at Junge Field.
A dance and bingo games are slated tonight.
The bowling competition continues Sunday morning.
This is the seventh year the event has been put on in Joplin.
Bowling will include competition in singles, doubles, team, unified doubles and teams. The unified doubles and teams are composed of Special Olympics participants along with nondisabled athletes of the same age and ability level.
Special Olympics is a year-round program for sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with disabilities.
More than 15,000 athletes participate in a variety of events staged around the state. The state basketball championship is in St. Charles. The state summer games are in Springfield. The outdoor championship is in Columbia.
The local event is sponsored by the Joplin Sports Authority and the Joplin Convention and Visitors Bureau.
