ATHLETES across all 14 parishes will be able to showcase their talent at the 31st Special Olympics National Summer Games to be staged today and tomorrow at the National Stadium and its adjoining facilities.

The opening ceremony will be held on today’s opening day of the championships at 5:00 pm at the National Arena. Michael Clarke, the outstanding track and field coach, will be the guest speaker.

Awards will be presented for Coach of the Year, Athlete of the Year and Spirit of Special Olympics.

Special Olympics Jamaica (SOJ) is preparing for the 2015 World Summer Games to be held in Los Angeles, United States.

Jamaica’s quota for the World Games is 69 athletes. Each country is required to take at least two athletes over the age of 45 to participate at the event.

SOJ won global recognition last year after Jamaica’s outstanding displays at the 2013 Pyeongchang World Winter Games.

The Jamaicans won silver medals in two ice figure skating categories to go with their second-place finish in floor hockey at the eight-day Championships in the Republic of Korea.

Special Olympics aims to provide year-round sports training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.

The programme offers these individuals the opportunity to develop physical fitness, experience joy, participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families and other Special Olympics athletes.

There are approximately 4.2 million athletes across 170 countries training and competing in the Special Olympics organisation.

— SM