Westlake Special Olympics Welcomes Spectators at Second Annual Games

The Special Olympics torch will light up the Westlake High School track on Saturday as participants take to the field to compete for the gold.

Competitors from all over the county will parade the track for the opening ceremony, before competing in events like the 400-meter run, wheelchair softball throw, 25-meter wheelchair run, 50-meter dash, long jump and more.

Event chair Russ Milan said about 70 participants, ages 8 and up, are slated to compete throughout the day, and everyone will go home with a medal.

“We have quite a range,” he said. “Most of the kids are from the west side, and the adults are from all over the county.”

Organized by the Westlake Kiwanis Club, Key Club, Builders Club, Aktion Club and Westlake City Schools, the event is funded through a Kiwanis International grant and private donations, said Vic Rutkoski, Kiwanis Aktion Club advisor.

This is the second Special Olympics event in Westlake, and organizers are hoping to nearly double participation for the 2012 event.

“We anticipate having 120 to 150 participants next year,” said Milan, who also co-chairs the Kiwanis Aktion Club.

The event is free and open to the public, and organizers are encouraging everyone to come out and watch. The opening ceremonies will begin at 10 a.m., with events getting under way at 10:30 a.m. and running into the early afternoon.