Special Olympics On The Way To Minot

Basketball seasons continue to wind down for many atheletes, and just as the Girls' State B tourn...  More »

Basketball seasons continue to wind down for many atheletes, and just as the Girls' State B tournament wrapped up in Minot this past weekend, another state tournament is set to take place in the Magic City this Friday and Saturday. The Special Olympics North Dakota State Basketball Tournament will be held on March 7th and 8th at Minot State University, Bishop Ryan High School, and Quentin Burdick Job Corps. More than 350 athletes, 83 coaches, and 35 teams from across the state will participate in the tournament, and competitors range from about 8 to 70 years old. Terry Voiles has been involved with the Special Olympics for over twenty years and he says the tournament is about much more than just basketball. (Terry Voiles, Special Olympics Board Member) I think the most important thing is the fact that it's the one of maybe half-a-dozen chances they get to be with their friends that they meet from other communities. We have eleven or twelve communities represented of all the major cities, obviously. But we also have athletes from Bowman and athletes from Turtle Mountain. So, a lot of communities come together and they get a chance to be with their friend. Special Olympics sporting events are held year-round and if you are looking to get involved, you can contact their state office by calling 1-800-279-4201.  « Less