Students, parents, and volunteers ventured out to the Delmar-Tusa Athletic Complex on Thursday to show their support on day one of the first annual Houston ISD Special Olympics Field Day. On May 2 and 3, the HISD Office of Special Education Services and Special Olympics Texas are joining together to host the inaugural districtwide event to provide athletic competition in Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual and physical disabilities.

More than 1,200 HISD elementary, middle, and high school students are participating in a variety of athletics events such as basketball, track, flag football, soccer, and softball throw events. During opening ceremonies, participants were all smiles as student representatives and HISD student volunteers lit the Olympic torch and proudly pledged the Special Olympics Oath: “Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”

“When you look around, you see the excitement out on this field. Kids have the opportunity to have a fun day together, enjoy themselves, run around, and have a sense of camaraderie,” said Sowmya Kumar, HISD Assistant Superintendent for Special Education.

Volunteers from HISD’s athletics department, Special Olympics Texas, the University of Houston, the Houston Texans, and Hewlett Packard are among the community partners lending a hand at the two-day event.

See more photos from Thursday’s Opening Ceremony.

“It’s about respect for all types of people, respect for people who have not been included in society,” said Margaret Larsen, Special Olympics Texas President and CEO. “Eventually these young people will go on to state, national, maybe even world events with Special Olympics.”

Special Olympics Texas – Greater Houston Area currently serves 4,360 children and adult athletes with intellectual and physical disabilities. To learn more about Special Olympics Texas or to make a donation, click here.