Prince George's County Students to Participate in Special Olympics

Student athletes and alumni from Prince George’s County Public Schools’ special education program will take part in a variety of athletic events at the Special Olympics in April and May, according to a press release.

Six PGCPS special education program sites will host Challenge Days for student athletes during the event. Challenge Days are a modified version of the traditional Special Olympics that provides opportunities for students with severe or multiple disabilities to demonstrate their personal best. The program is part of the Special Olympics Motor Activities Training Program, which emphasizes training and participation rather than competition.

At the end of Challenge Days, each student’s achievement is celebrated in an awards presentation where every student is given an official Special Olympics Medal to commemorate weeks of training and hard work.

Months prior to the event, an adapted sport was identified for each student by the school’s educational team based on age, ability, and interest. Sports included bowling, volleyball, relay races, softball, football, roller skating, baton relays, and aquatics. Each student was assigned a peer coach from neighboring elementary and secondary schools to help them train before the event.

The competitions kicked off with the George Dobson swim meet on April 16. Participants competed in freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and mixed relay categories at the Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex Aquatics Center.

The countywide annual Special Olympics Spring Games is hosted in partnership with the national Special Olympics organization and will be held on May 7 at 10:30 a.m. This event will take place on the outdoor track of the Prince George’s Sports and Learning Complex in Landover. Students will compete in events including the 50/100/200 meter dash, wheelchair race, running and standing long jumps, high jump, shot put, turbo javelin, and softball and tennis ball throws.

The Challenge Day schedule is as follows:

• Friday, April 24 10:30 a.m.

Margaret Brent Regional School

5816 Lamont Terrace, New Carrollton

• Friday, May 1 9:30 a.m.

C. Elizabeth Rieg Regional School

15542 Peach Walker Dr., Mitchellville

• Wednesday, May 13 9 a.m.

Tanglewood Regional School

8333 Woodyard Rd., Clinton

• Friday, May 15 9:30 a.m.

James E. Duckworth Regional School

11201 Evans Trl., Beltsville

• Thursday, May 21 9 a.m.

Panorame Elementary School

2002 Callaway St., Temple Hills

• Friday, May 22 9:30 a.m.

Oxon Hill Middle School

9570 Fort Foote Rd., Fort Washington