OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLA. (KOKH) — Special Olympics Oklahoma (SOOK) is gearing up for its 29th annual State Winter Games, set to take place from Jan. 8-10. This year’s Winter Games, hosted at the University of Oklahoma in Norman and surrounding areas in the OKC metro, will see the largest participation in SOOK history with 152 teams consisting of 2,753 athletes competing.
Athletes who earned their spot through local area competitions in the fall will compete in five exciting sports: Basketball, Unified Bowling, Swimming, Unified Cheerleading, and Unified Volleyball. Unified Sports enables athletes with and without intellectual disabilities to compete together, promoting inclusion and fostering lifelong friendships.
In addition to the competitive events, SOOK will also offer its Young Athletes program, designed for children with and without intellectual disabilities ranging from ages 2 to 7. The program introduces fundamental sport skills such as running, kicking, and throwing, and brings together children of all abilities. The initiative provides families, caregivers, and communities with the chance to share the joy of sports and inclusion…