Iowa City hosts Special Olympics Iowa competition Saturday

IOWA CITY - More than 1,000 athletes from across the state are expected in Iowa City Friday and Saturday for the 30th annual Special Olympics Iowa Mid-Winter Tournament.

Kickoff events, including opening ceremonies, a banquet and a dance, take place Friday at the Marriott Hotel & Conference Center, 300 E. Ninth St., Coralville, and the competition is Saturday at the University of Iowa Field House and Iowa City West and City high schools.

Billed as Special Olympics Iowa's own version of 'March Madness,” the Mid-Winter Tournament features basketball, cheerleading, gymnastics and powerlifting. Here is a schedule of events for Saturday's competitions:

- 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. - 3 on 3 basketball, main deck at UI Field House, 225 S. Grand Ave.; 5 on 5 basketball, UI Field House south gym.

- 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. - Powerlifting (bench press and dead lift), UI Field House room 515.

- 9 to 10:30 a.m. - Cheer & Dance (yell), main gym at West High School, 2901 Melrose Ave.

- 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. - Gymnastics, UI Field House.

- 12:30 to 3 p.m. - Cheer & Dance (dance), West High School main gym.

Stephanie Kocer, marketing and communications manager for Special Olympics Iowa, said the Mid-Winter Tournament is one of eight statewide competitions held each year. While not as big as the annual Winter or Summer Games, she said this event is the third largest in terms of the number of athletes, coaches and volunteers.

'It's our version of going to state,” she said, describing the competition as fierce, but filled with incredible acts of sportsmanship. 'The athletes like getting their medals, but they really like to see their friends win, too.”

Kocer said the competition is open to athletes age 8 and older.

'We don't have an age cap in Special Olympics,” she said. 'I know we have athletes in their 70s who still compete. We have age divisions to break that up.”

The public is welcome to attend any of the Saturday events, as well as the opening ceremonies at 6 p.m. Friday free of charge.

'We encourage people to come watch,” said Kocer. 'The athletes love having an audience and having people watch them.”

This year's Mid-Winter Tournament is sponsored by the Coralville Marriott, University of Iowa, ACT, UI Community Credit Union and Fareway Food Stores. It is a precursor to Special Olympics Iowa's Summer Games, to be held this year May 25-27 at Iowa State University in Ames. The largest Special Olympics Iowa event of the year, the Summer Games bring together more than 2,600 athletes, 1,200 coaches and 2,000 volunteers.

For more information about Special Olympics Iowa and a complete schedule of Mid-Winter Tournament activities, go to soiowa.org.