The Special Olympics Missouri State Outdoor Games will return to Jefferson City in 2014.
More than 900 athletes and coaches from across the state will participate in softball, tennis, soccer, bocce, flag football and golf from Oct. 3-5, 2014, at local venues including Adkins Stadium, Fields of Legends, 63 Sports complex, Binder Park, Riverside Park, Ellis-Porter YMCA and Railwood Golf Course.
Special Olympics and the Jefferson City Convention and Visitors Bureau announced the four-year contract for the statewide games Wednesday.
"It's great to be back," said Mark Musso, CEO/president of Special Olympics Missouri.
The organization organizes more than 330 events for more than 17,000 athletes annually statewide.
After winning at the local and district levels, some of those athletes advance to two statewide events, which will become three in 2014.
Musso noted when the outdoor games were hosted in Jefferson City prior to 2007, the community was generous, easy to work with, has "outstanding" venues, and had an "incredible" volunteer base.
Diane Gillespie, bureau executive director, noted that more than $125,000 should be generated with this returning event, which includes about 250 rooms for three nights for participants.
Nearly 500 volunteers will be needed for the event.
For more information, go to www.somo.org.
Earlier coverage, posted at 12:44 p.m.
The Special Olympics Missouri State Outdoor Games will return to Jefferson City in 2014.
More than 900 athletes and coaches from across the state will participate in softball, tennis, soccer, bocce, flag football and golf from Oct 3-5, 2014, at local venues including Adkins Stadium, Fields of Legends, 63 Sports complex, Binder Park, Riverside Park, Ellis-Porter YMCA and Railwood Golf Course.
Special Olympics and the Jefferson City Convention and Visitors Bureau announced the four-year contract for the statewide games Wednesday morning.