Published: June 06, 2007 11:10 pm      

Endeavor Games ready to inspire

EDMOND — The participants are more than some of the nation’s best athletes. They are tributes to what a person can overcome and still be a winner.

A record-breaking 350 participants will be in Edmond through Sunday for the Eighth Annual Endeavor Games for Athletes with Physical Disabilities at the University of Central Oklahoma.

Shelly Ramsey, UCO’s event coordinator of the Disabled Sports and Events, said athletes from 27 states will be represented, as well as Panama and Mexico.

Ten sporting events will be at UCO and Edmond Public Schools venues. In addition, sport clinics, presented by the U.S. Paralympics, will be today.

Ramsey said the event is partnered with Disabled Sports USA and with an organization of members of the U.S. military who received disabling injuries while in service.

“We have 30 soldiers who are coming here as part of the Wounded Soldier Project that were injured in Iraq or Afghanistan,” Ramsey said.

Opening ceremonies are sponsored by the Chickasaw Nation featuring American Indian dancers, a Parade of Athletes and a tribute to U.S. soldiers.

Ramsey said UCO is a great venue to have the games because of its location and facilities.

“Oklahoma and the City of Edmond are extremely supportive of this event, always welcoming and doing what they can to get behind this.”

She said the games’ youngest competitor is 5-years old and will run in his first competition.

Parking at UCO is available for the Endeavor Games.

“We are excited to meet him and see him run,” Ramsey said.

“People ask me all the time, they want to hear an inspiring story and I say, ‘How much time do you have because there are tons of inspiring stories.’”