Rain forces cancellation of Special Olympics events in Stillwater – KOCO Oklahoma City

STILLWATER FROM ATHLETES WHO CAME FROM AROUND THE STATE FOR THEIR MOMENT TO SHINE. THE SPECIAL OLYMPIANS LEARNED THE EVENTS THEY HAD WORKED SO HARD FOR WERE CANCELED TODAY BECAUSE OF THE RAIN. K-O-C-OS KILEY THOMAS TALKED WITH THEM AND ORGANIZERS. SPECIAL OLYMPIC ATHLETES TRAIN FOR WEEKS, EVEN MONTHS FOR THE SUMMER GAMES. BUT BECAUSE OF FLOODED FIELDS LIKE THIS ONE, MANY WONT GET THE CHANCE TO COMPETE. IM SO DISAPPOINTED WE GOT UP REAL EARLY THIS MORNING AND LOOKED OUTSIDE AND WENT, WELL, THIS ISNT GOOD. ON THURSDAY, SPECIAL OLYMPICS OKLAHOMA CANCELED ALL OUTDOOR EVENTS. ORGANIZERS SAY HEAVY RAIN AND LIGHTNING CREATED HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS FOR THEIR ATHLETES. ITS ONE OF THE WORST DECISIONS I HAVE TO MAKE, YOU KNOW, ITS BUT WERE ALSO LOOKING OUT FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR FOLKS. WE DONT WANT TO CANCEL. WE WISH WE HAD AREAS WE COULD MOVE INSIDE. WE JUST DONT. THE CANCELLATION MEANT HUNDREDS OF ATHLETES COULDNT COMPETE ON THE BIGGEST DAY OF SUMMER GAMES, INCLUDING TEAM POTEAU. IT TAKES ABOUT 3.5 HOURS TO GET HERE, SO ITS ITS A BIG DEAL FOR US. IM HOPING THE THIRD TIMES A CHARM. HASKELL COMPETES IN SOFTBALL AND TRACK. TOMORROW WILL BE HIS ONLY CHANCE AT COMPETING, BUT HE SAYS ITS ALL FUN AND GAMES. I HOPE I DO GOOD AND I HOPE TODAY MY BETTER DAYS ARE GOOD BECAUSE OUR TEAM IS THE BEST TEAM THERE IS, AND IM HOPING THE GOOD TEAMS STAY STRONG. WE TRIED TO SHOW THEM THAT NO MATTER WHAT YOU JUST MAKE THE BEST OF THE SITUATION BECAUSE A LOT OF OUR KIDS, THIS IS THEIR VACATION. YOU KNOW, THEY DONT GO ANYWHERE UNLESS THEY COME HERE. AND THATS WHY WERE SO THANKFUL FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS AND WHAT THEY DO HERE. TEAM BONO, BON

Rain forces cancellation of Special Olympics events in Stillwater, disappointing athletes

The cancellation meant hundreds of athletes couldn't compete on the biggest day of the Summer Games

Updated: 7:30 PM CDT May 16, 2024

The overnight storms forced the cancellation of Special Olympics events in Stillwater on Thursday, leaving athletes from around the state disappointed."I'm so disappointed," said Griffin, a 13-year-old Special Olympics athlete who competes in bocce.The decision to cancel all outdoor events was made early Thursday morning. "We got up real early this morning and looked outside and went, 'Well this ain't good,'" said Jim Scott, the games director for Special Olympics Oklahoma. "It's one of the worst decisions that I have to make, but we're also looking out for the safety of our folks. We don't want to cancel. We wish had areas we could move inside. We just don't."The cancellation meant hundreds of athletes couldn't compete on the biggest day of the Summer Games. This included Team Poteau."It takes about three and a half hours to get here, so it's a big deal for us," said Barbara Leonard, assistant coach for Poteau.Despite the cancellation, Haskell, a Special Olympics athlete who competes in softball and track and field, remained hopeful."I'm hoping that third times a charm," Haskell said. "Tomorrow, I hope I do good and I hope today, my better days are good because our team is the best team there is. And I'm hoping the good team stays strong."Leonard echoed Haskell's positive outlook, emphasizing the importance of making the best of the situation."We just try to show them no matter what, you just make the best of the situation because for a lot of our kids," she said. "This is their vacation; they don't go anywhere unless they come here, and that's why we're so grateful for Special Olympics and what they do here."Top Headlines Court Documents: 22-year-old man confessed to killing parents, sister at Chickasha home Man arrested in connection with 2023 child abuse death of 5-week-old Oklahoma City baby Strong winds snap power poles and trees during severe storms in Edmond WATCH: Sky 5 shows storm damage in Oklahoma City metro Severe storms bring large hail, damaging winds to parts of Oklahoma

The overnight storms forced the cancellation of Special Olympics events in Stillwater on Thursday, leaving athletes from around the state disappointed.

"I'm so disappointed," said Griffin, a 13-year-old Special Olympics athlete who competes in bocce.

The decision to cancel all outdoor events was made early Thursday morning.

"We got up real early this morning and looked outside and went, 'Well this ain't good,'" said Jim Scott, the games director for Special Olympics Oklahoma. "It's one of the worst decisions that I have to make, but we're also looking out for the safety of our folks. We don't want to cancel. We wish had areas we could move inside. We just don't."

The cancellation meant hundreds of athletes couldn't compete on the biggest day of the Summer Games. This included Team Poteau.

"It takes about three and a half hours to get here, so it's a big deal for us," said Barbara Leonard, assistant coach for Poteau.

Despite the cancellation, Haskell, a Special Olympics athlete who competes in softball and track and field, remained hopeful.

"I'm hoping that third times a charm," Haskell said. "Tomorrow, I hope I do good and I hope today, my better days are good because our team is the best team there is. And I'm hoping the good team stays strong."

Leonard echoed Haskell's positive outlook, emphasizing the importance of making the best of the situation.

"We just try to show them no matter what, you just make the best of the situation because for a lot of our kids," she said. "This is their vacation; they don't go anywhere unless they come here, and that's why we're so grateful for Special Olympics and what they do here."

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Rain forces cancellation of Special Olympics events in Stillwater - KOCO Oklahoma City