Anaconda turns out for Special Olympics athletes at Southwestern Area Games

An estimated 150 Special Olympics athletes and volunteers came together for the Special Olympics Montana Southwestern Area Games in Anaconda on Wednesday morning.

The games included opening ceremonies, track-and-field events and bocce.

Kari Hoscheid, one of the organizers for the event and the local program coordinator for Anaconda Schools Special Olympics, said it’s an awesome affair for Anaconda to host.

“We always get so many volunteers,” she said, “Anaconda never lets us down on that front.”

According to Special Olympics Montana, the games involve a day filled with teamwork, sportsmanship and celebration of the athletes’ achievements.

It’s a great chance, according to Hoscheid, for people from different areas to come together to support and celebrate each other.

The mission of Special Olympics Montana is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. It gives them continuing opportunities to develop their physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in sharing skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and their communities.

“My favorite part is just watching our kids be so excited to win medals and to be with their friends,” said Hoscheid.

Beau Tweedy, 8, competed in the 50-meter dash, 100-meter dash and the softball throw. Running is Tweedy’s favorite competitive event. “That’s my best one,” he said.

It was Tweedy’s second time competing at the Special Olympics. While he said he had made a couple of friends through competing, his motivation to return is the chance to take home more trophies.