Special day for Special Olympians

Alexandra, a South Coast runner, waves to her fans as she competes in the 100-meter dash. Bob Palermini photo
July 9, 2023

More than 200 athletes take part in annual event at Southern Oregon University

The 2023 Special Olympics Oregon Summer Regional Games were held Saturday in Ashland at Southern Oregon University’s Raider Stadium. 

Teams from 10 Southern Oregon counties — Curry, Douglas, Jackson, Josephine, Klamath, and the South Coast team with athletes from Coos Bay, North Bend, Reedsport, Coquille and Bandon counties — participated in a variety of track and field events and bocce ball.  

About 220 athletes took part in the event, which is a qualifying meet for the state Special Olympics. Volunteers from the Kiwanis Club of Ashland provided lunch for the athletes and staff.

The bocce courts were busy all morning as teams from 10 Southern Oregon counties competed in the Oregon Special Olympics Summer Regional Games. Bob Palermini photo
Members of the Douglas County team cheer as they are introduced at the Summer Regional Games, held Saturday at Raider Stadium on the SOU campus. Bob Palermini photo
Jamilah, an athlete from Jackson County, takes her turn at shot put, one of three events she participated in. Bob Palermini photo
Ryan, an athlete from Josephine County, takes his turn at the shot put. Bob Palermini photo
Members of the Klamath County Special Olympics team cheer as they are recognized at the start of the games. Their tie-dyed shirts stood out in the crowd. Bob Palermini photo
Athletes were competing for gold, silver and bronze medals at the Summer Regional Games held in Ashland Saturday. Bob Palermini photo
Brian, from the Klamath County team, takes his turn lagging a ball assisted by Kristene, a coach. Bob Palermini photo
A Jackson County athlete competes in the 100-meter dash at Raider Stadium Saturday. Bob Palermini photo
Many medals and ribbons were awarded at the Special Olympics Summer Regional Games held in Ashland Saturday. Bob Palermini photo
A South Coast runner takes the lead in a men’s race Saturday. Bob Palermini photo
Athletes from (from left) Jackson County, South Coast and Klamath County compete in a close race in the Special Olympics regional games held on the campus of Southern Oregon University Saturday. Bob Palermini photo
The field at Southern Oregon University’s Raider Stadium hosted the Oregon Special Olympics summer regional games Saturday. Bob Palermini photo
A Josephine County Special Olympics distance runner competes in the 1,500 meter run on the track at Raider Stadium Saturday. Bob Palermini photo
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Bert Etling

Bert Etling is the executive editor of Ashland.news. Email him at [email protected].

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For the fourth year in a row, the Southern Oregon women's basketball team is through to the second round of the NAIA National Tournament. In Friday night's 86-52 first-round win over UC Merced at Lithia Motors Pavilion, the Raiders made it look routine. The task gets taller, literally and figuratively, in Saturday's 5 p.m. second-round matchup against No. 7 seed Wayland Baptist (Texas).
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Brilliantly acted and staged at the intimate Richard L. Hay Center at the Grizzly Peak Winery, Rogue Theater Company's production of “Doubt,” as director John Sipes writes of the play, “serves as a cautionary tale, reminding us to be wary of the narrowness of moral certainty and encouraging us to embrace the ambiguity and uncertainty we so often face.”
This week's crossword: more local trails and features in Ashland's hills. Solve it directly in the article or download a PDF to print. Next week's crossword: "Collaborative Theatre 2025 #02." More crosswords under the Culture menu.
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