Posted by Gary S., Last Updated: Mon Jan 23, 2012

2011 World Games Opening Ceremonies - Greece

When it comes down to it, these athletes, these Special Olympians are all about the fundamentals of sports.
“Playing as a team,” Special Olympian Josh Jerome says. “Showing good sportsmanship. Having fun.”
This is the 29-th year Special Olympians from around the state are making their way to Minot for the State Basketball Tournament.In all 41 teams from 13 North Dakota cities are each trying to advance through their bracket.

For most of these Special Olympic athletes, this is their only opportunity to play organized team sports.
Throughout the tournament the fans in the stands, the coaches and other volunteers are there to support them.
“You`re volunteering your time and your energy and your enthusiasm,” says Ryan Hanson, coach of a team from Devils Lake. “But what you get back from the kids and the adults that you work with is so much more.”

And so the hundreds of athletes are out on the court, competing as hard as they can. As they say it`s all about sportsmanship. “Everybody hopes everybody else`s team wins,” Hanson says. “They`re not even worried about their own team.”