The Edmond Sun

Local News

Related Photos

  • SUN FILE PHOTO | ZACH GRAY Alexa Halko, 8, trained with her coach, Brooke Hoisington, at the UCO Endeavor Games June 11, 2009. This year's games will feature 475 athletes who have physical disabilities.

    Endeavor Games_051_.jpg

Discussion

June 4, 2010

475 athletes will descend on city

James Coburn The Edmond Sun

EDMOND — Edmond will be in the spotlight June 10-13 when the University of Central Oklahoma welcomes Oklahomans and visitors to the 11th annual UCO Endeavor Games.

“The Endeavor Games bring great tourism opportunities to Edmond,” Mayor Patrice Douglas said.

More than 475 athletes with physical disabilities and 350 volunteers will visit the UCO campus. Edmond North High School will facilitate track and field events, said Ryan Wilson, UCO marketing and public relations assistant.

“A lot of people are unexposed to paralympic sports, and the Endeavor Games not only exposes them to paralympic sports but exposes them to the breadth of people with physical disabilities,” Wilson said.

Athletes from 6 to 60 years of age will compete against other athletes with similar disabilities in 11 sport competitions and 10 clinics. Admission is free.

Wilson said the games are endorsed or sanctioned by the U.S. Paralympics, National Disability Sports Alliance, Disabled Sports USA Track and Field, and Wheelchair Sports USA.

Interest in the games is growing with more than 70 new athletes participating this year, Wilson said. So is national and international attention.

“It’s going to be our biggest Endeavor Games yet as far as athletes go,” Wilson said. “We have a lot of community members that are extremely excited to volunteer every year. A lot of family members use the Endeavor Games as their family vacation.”

Cheers of encouragement are rampant during swimming competitions as large crowds of supporters gather, Wilson said. UCO does not do an actual count of visitors to the games. However, Wilson said more volunteers than spectators usually attend the games. But volunteers and the athletes are spectators, too.

“Not only are these families and athletes introduced to the great hotels, restaurants and amenities of Edmond, but because of these games, Edmond is now the host of the Paralympic Sitting Volleyball event,” Douglas said.

Events will include powerlifting, table tennis, wheelchair basketball, swimming, sitting volleyball, shooting, cycling, wheelchair track and field, indoor/outdoor archery and ambulatory track and field.

A schedule of events for the UCO Endeavor Games may be found at www.ucoendeavorgames.com. Call 974-3160 for more information.



jcoburn@edmondsun.com | 341-2121, ext. 114

Text Only
Local News
  • $6.8B budget crosses final hurdle

    House members found enough votes late Thursday afternoon to approve the state’s $6.8 billion budget for next year by a vote of 52-42. This came after an earlier vote failed by four votes in the House Thursday morning.

    May 25, 2012

  • Santa Fe principal resigns

    Edmond Santa Fe High School principal Earl Kirkpatrick resigned Thursday to explore possibilities in the field of ministry. His last day is June 30.

    May 25, 2012

  • devin derrick 2012.jpg Hollywood dreams do come true: Edmondite develops film, music career

    It’s all about being in the right place at the right time.
    At least that is what Edmond resident and 1990 Edmond High School graduate Devin Derrick will tell you about his rise to fame in the music and movie businesses.

    May 25, 2012 1 Photo

  • ASK A LAWYER: Trusts provide options for difficult heirs

    Q: We have a grown daughter who has a gambling problem. We want to provide for her in our will, but also want to protect her share from being wasted after we die. How can we do this?
    A: Your situation is not unusual. Most of us know at least one person who has difficulty handling money for one reason or another.

    May 25, 2012

  • 5-26 Pets

    This is a list of animals that have been found and are at the Edmond Animal Shelter, at Interstate 35 and Covell in the Cross Timbers Municipal Complex. Call the shelter at 216-7615 for more information.

    May 25, 2012

  • 5-26 Police and Fire

    Information in this column is gathered from city fire incident logs and police incident reports.

    May 25, 2012

  • Make-A-Wish Oklahoma hosts Lexus raffle

    Make-A-Wish Oklahoma will once again partner with Lexus of Tulsa and Eskridge Lexus of Oklahoma City to raffle off a new Lexus, raising funds to support the organization’s efforts to grant the heartfelt wishes of children diagnosed with life-threatening medical conditions in Oklahoma.

    May 25, 2012

  • Edmond youth are encouraged to make a difference

    The Edmond Youth Council programs are opportunities for students 15-18 years of age to learn about municipal government and potentially impact future city policies.

    May 25, 2012

  • Hiebert graduates from Field Artillery training

    Army Pfc. Cody A. Hiebert has graduated from the Field Artillery Firefinder Radar Operator Advanced Individual Training course at Fort Sill, Lawton.

    May 25, 2012

  • arcadia lake 3.jpg Police: Comply with lake rules during holiday period

    Summer vacation, hot days and a holiday weekend spell heavier traffic on Arcadia Lake, and police want to remind guests about rules and what happens if you break them.
    May 23 was the last day of school for Edmond Public Schools and the long Memorial Day holiday period has come.

    May 25, 2012 6 Photos