Special Olympics of Missouri’s North Area will hold its annual Area Bowling Tournament Saturday at the Southside Family Fun Center in St Joseph (6938 King Hill Ave).
Opening ceremonies will begin at 7:40am and the competition starts at 8am. Organizers expect athletes from Maryville, Rockport, Mound City, Savannah, St. Joseph and Kansas to take part.
Officials with the St Joseph School District say 40 students from the district will be taking part starting at 8am, with another four starting at 11am and four more at 2pm.
Athletes compete to qualify for the State Games in Fort Leonard Wood in March.
Athletes compete in individual, doubles, team, bumper, ramp and unified bowling throughout the day.
Special Olympics Missouri is a year-round program of sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. More than 17,000 athletes participate in 21 Olympic-type sports throughout the state. Special Olympics provides people with intellectual disabilities continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, and experience joy as they participate in the sharing of gifts and friendship with their fellow athletes, their family and friends, and communities across Missouri.
Visit Special Olympics at www.somo.org or on Twitter: @somissouri; fb.com/specialolympicsmo.