THE 32nd staging of the Special Olympics Jamaica (SOJ) annual National Summer Games will begin at 10:00 am today with action at the National Stadium track and its adjoining facilities.

The official Opening Ceremony is scheduled for 5:00 pm at the recently opened SOJ multi-purpose court, located next to the National Indoor Sports Centre.

Over 620 athletes from across the island who have intellectual disabilities are set to compete in track and field, bocce, volleyball and basketball at the two-day championships.

Bocce is a ball sport in which players use an underarm action to bowl at a target. Points are gained by the ball’s proximity to the target.

Wilford ‘Billy’ Heaven, the chief executive officer of the main sponsors CHASE Fund and president of the Jamaica Cricket Association, is expected to provide the keynote address.

At today’s function, SOJ will name the 69 athletes representing the country at the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Los Angeles, California from July 25 to August 2.

A total of 17 coaches and two officials make up the rest of the delegation.

Jamaica is down to compete in aquatics, athletics, badminton, unified football, unified basketball, female futsal, volleyball, and bocce.

United States President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama have committed to serve as honorary chairs for the World Games, which is expected to attract participants from 177 countries.

Jamaica won silver medals in two ice figure skating categories to go with their second-place finish in floor hockey at the 2013 World Winter Games in the Republic of Korea.

The Special Olympics International (SOI) body provides people with intellectual disabilities the chance to show their athletic abilities and targets the breaking down of barriers that exclude them from mainstream society.

–Sanjay Myers