A day after President Trump - bowing to public pressure - announced he is not going to allow the US Dept. of Education to cut $18M from the Special Olympics, the Area 5 special athletes gathered for the 2019 Sprinmg Games at Bailey Memorial Stadium, Presbyterian College. More than 400 athletes from 21 schools competed for the 45th year on the PC campus. Area 5 includes Laurens, Abbeville, Greenwood, McCormick and Newberry counties. PC first hosted the Area 5 games in 1974; and at those first games, a group of more than 100 PC students helped staff the activites and events. Now, between their competitions, special athletes can have fun at a kids' zone in front of the stadium's main concourse. In addition to races, there are softball throw, shot out, and standing the running long jumps. Many athletes compete to go on to the State Games - many others and their assistants compete for fun and camaraderie. They don't all win - they win just for trying. - Photos by Vic MacDonald
