Special Olympic fever is here

OLYMPIC fever will grip Pakenham this weekend as Special Olympics Victoria (SOV) open their Winter State Games competition.
The opening ceremony will be held at Cardinia Life Basketball Stadium from 9.30am on Saturday as athletes participating in basketball, soccer and ten-pin bowling will test themselves against the best in the state over the weekend.
Attending the opening ceremony will be the Minister for Sport and Recreation Damien Drum, Victorian Deputy Police Commissioner Lucinda Nolan and opening the games will be Cardinia Shire Council deputy-mayor Brett Owen.
Cardinia Life will host the basketball tournament, Lakeside Reserve – in conjunction with Cardinia United Junior Soccer Club – will host the Victorian Special Olympics soccer team and a five-a-side tournament while Narre Warren Super Bowl will see the best bowlers in Victoria descend to knock down strikes across the weekend.
It will be the fourth year in a row that the Games have been held in Pakenham and Special Olympics Victoria is proud to return to the area with support from Cardinia Shire Council.
“It’s a tremendous achievement for these athletes to be selected to represent their local region at our state games each year and we are delighted with the support from the Cardinia Shire Council and local sports clubs,” SOV State Manager Kevin O’Byrne said.