In the Olympic spirit? Heres a guide to watch the Texas Special Olympics in Lake Travis area – Austin American-Statesman

As the Winter Olympics come to a close in Beijing, the Special Olympics of Texas is hosting its own weekend of winter games across the Lake Travisarea. With events in floorball, volleyball, powerlifting and cycling, athletes will travel from across the state for two days of competition and camaraderie on Friday and Saturday.

The sporting events will mostly take place on Saturday in venues across the Lake Travis region. On Friday, the main event is the kickoff reception at the Lakeway Resort and Spa from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Sarah Ribeiro, the director of development for Special Olympics of Texas, said she expects about 300 people to attend the event and hopes members of the community will come out in full force to celebrate the games.

Our CEO will be speaking, our board will be speaking, well hear from athletes. There's a silent auction. It's just basically a party, a celebration because weve been closed for two years (for COVID-19), and so we really would like to have the community involved in that.

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Details about how to RSVP and donate for the kickoff can be found online at sotx.org.

The athletic events take place throughout the day on Saturday, with many running all day from around 8 a.m. to about 5 p.m.

Floorball and volleyball will take place at Hill Country Indoor in Bee Cave, while powerlifting and cycling can be viewed at Bee Cave Middle School. An invitational golfing tournament will be at theFalconhead Golf Club. For more details about timing and location for each event can be found online at sotx.org/winter-games-schedule.

Shawn Britt, the executive director for the central and southern region of Special Olympics Texas, said anyone can attend any event for any amount of time with no tickets or reservations required.

This is the first games in two years so the athletes will be really excited if they can get fans out there cheering them on, she said.

Britt said spectators are also welcome to visit the Athletes Village at Hill Country Indoors, where participantswill spend time while not competing.

The event will also include health screenings at Hill Country Indoors, Britt said.

Athletes can get screened for dental vision, podiatry, she said. We have physicians donate their time as part of that and athletes come out with free glasses, dental referrals, sometimes when we do the hearing, they come out with hearing aids.

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The two-day sporting event will be capped off with a victory celebration at Star Hill Ranch,15000 Hamilton Pool Road inBee Cave. The evening starts with dinner from 5 to 6 p.m., followed by the victory dance from 7 to 9 p.m. Britt said of all the weekends festivities,she is most looking forward to the victory celebration.

We have what's called the Law Enforcement Torch Run where other police officers come out and they light the cauldron to celebrate the games, she said. The athletes get to hang out and visit with each other because they haven't seen each other in two years. This is our first state competition in two years, so the athletes are looking forward to getting back together and seeing each other.

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In the Olympic spirit? Heres a guide to watch the Texas Special Olympics in Lake Travis area - Austin American-Statesman