Athletes come in all shapes and sizes, and that’s why the Houston Independent School District played host to the third annual Special Olympics field days April 29–May 1 at Barnett Stadium.

Field days give students with intellectual disabilities a chance to take part in fun and friendly athletic contests. The games kicked off on Wednesday morning with an opening ceremony that included a parade for athletes and the official passing of the torch.

More than 2,500 students from HISD schools are taking part in the friendly competitions this year, with events in basketball, tennis, and track and field for all ages, as well as soccer for middle-schoolers and flag football for high-schoolers.

Students between the ages of five and seven who receive instruction through Preschoolers Acquiring Learning Skills (PALS) or Skills for Living and Learning (SLL) classes also got a chance to develop their motor skills at a “Future Stars” event on April 30, with an eye toward preparing them for future Special Olympic field days.

HISD would like to extend its thanks to the hundreds of generous volunteers who ensured these games ran smoothly.

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