More than 320 athletes participated in the first day of the eighth consecutive Special Olympics North Dakota Soccer/Bocce Tournament on Saturday at Bringewatt Park in Grand Forks.
Twenty-three soccer teams and many bocce ball teams competed against each other for a place in the tournaments, taking place Saturday and today. Each athlete picks one or the other sport to play.
Athlete Kim Rygg, 34, Grand Forks, participates in the bocce ball tournament each year and smiled while she played in her bright yellow poncho Saturday.
"It's awesome," she said with a smile. "I really like it."
"She's in bowling, cheerleading and swimming, too," said Lois Rygg, Kim's mother. "She just goes from one sport to another and she loves them all."
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Athletes, fans, chaperones and coaches sported ponchos, umbrellas and even garbage bags to stay dry in the rain.
"Our athletes are from all over North Dakota," said Kathy Meagher, president and CEO of Special Olympics North Dakota.
Eleven communities in the state sent teams for the events during the weekend.
Beverly Koller, Grand Forks, likes to participate in the Special Olympics events because she likes to meet new people.
"I really like meeting new friends," she said after winning a bocce ball game.
Koller also is a cheerleader and bowler. She participates in the tournament every year.
The Opening Ceremony and Parade of Athletes was held at 12:30 p.m. Saturday and many athletes still were playing bocce ball despite the rain at 5 p.m.
"They're a little tired and cold," Lois Rygg said of the athletes as she cheered on her daughter from underneath a blue umbrella.
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A dance for the athletes Saturday night, originally scheduled for Town Square, was moved to East Grand Forks Sacred Heart School because of the rain. The tournament resumes at 9:30 a.m. today.
Many volunteers from organizations in Grand Forks help with the event. Ecolab, Grand Forks Air Force Base, Grand Forks Fire Department, Grand Forks Firefighters Local 242, Kiwanis Club of Grand Forks, UND Army ROTC, UND Christus Rex, UND Honors Students and the UND women's soccer team all had volunteers at the event.
Athletes will know who won the tournament before heading home today.
David Johs, Bismarck, has been a Special Olympics athlete since he was 9 and now is 35. His mother came with him for the weekend and was his bocce partner. He was very excited and happy with his performance Saturday.
Reach Gibson at (701) 787-6754, or lgibson@gfherald.com .
