Illinois Special Olympics Spring Games move to East Peoria

Posted on April 28, 2018

By Crystal Donaldson

EAST PEORIA – The Illinois Special Olympics Spring Games have a new location.

This year’s games are moving from Normal West High School to the EastSide Centre in East Peoria because of an increase in athletes.

Special Olympics Region Director Jim Fitzpatrick said the games remind him that ‘there is still good in the world’.

“We have interns here that spend hours upon hours tying ribbons,” said Fritzpatrick. “To see those ribbons go to use, and those medals go to use, and to be put around those necks and the smiles and the comradery.”

Fitzpatrick also said about 300 athletes are competing this year and location wasn’t the only thing effected because of the increase.

“We could always use more volunteers. We’re about 50 volunteers short and we could really use the help.”

To volunteer sign up at soill.org.

The Spring Games start Sunday at 10 a.m.

Crystal Donaldson can be reached at [email protected].

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