Special Olympics athletes to play in Edmond, Oklahoma City

The tournament will host more than 400 Special Olympics athletes. Play starts at 9 a.m. Friday at Bickham Softball Complex in Edmond and at the Amateur Softball Association Hall of Fame Complex in Oklahoma City.

The games will continue through 2 p.m. Sunday, said Craig Cress, Amateur Softball Association director of membership.

Athletes from 16 states — Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas and Vermont — will celebrate during opening ceremonies at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the hall of fame complex, 2801 NE 50 in Oklahoma City.

“Softball emphasizes teamwork, physical fitness and strategic thinking — benefits and skills found on the playing field that people with intellectual disabilities can use to become active, contributing members of their communities,” said Bob Gobrecht, president and managing director of Special Olympics North America. “We see continued growth in softball, with more than 78,000 Special Olympics athletes participating in the sport globally.”

Edmond's Bickham Softball Complex is at Midwest Boulevard and Danforth Road.