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Getting their game on

Area athletes take part in Friends Forever Games

— Daily Freeman-Journal photos by Anne Blankenship Friends Forever members line up to try their hand at the Frisbee throw Wednesday morning. The Friends Forever Social Education Center is hosting its own version of the Special Olympic games this week.

The cancellation of Special Olympics events this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic was a big disappointment to the thousands of Iowa athletes who regularlycompete in those games.

But Friends Forever Social Education Center members decided not to think about that disappointment. Rather, they decided to forge ahead and host their own competition.

“Our members every year have the opportunity to compete in (Special Olympic) events and competitions,” said Shannon Swon, one of the staff members at Friends Forever. “But they couldn’t this year because of COVID.

“They enjoy those competitions so much, so we decided to do our own,” she said.

The Friends Forever Games have been going all week at 500 Fairmeadow Drive, where the clubhouse is located. About 30 members are taking part in the specially-planned events. Wednesday was designated as team day. Members headed outside to take part in t-ball, Frisbee throwing and volleyball.

Each team member had their own favorite Frisbee to toss in the competition, like this smiley emoji.

Staff members helped keep things moving along as batters stepped to the plate to slam out line drives through the field. One member kept track of scores on a white board, notching a mark for each run crossing home plate.

Team members demonstrated a variety of techniques as they stepped to the line to send a Frisbee sailing through the air. The staff helpers rolled out a tape measure to keep track of which toss flew the farthest.

While their team mates were competing, other Friends Forever members rang cowbells and waved signs of support.

“They’ve really done a great job cheering each other on. Their attitudes are just incredible,” she said.

Other events throughout the week have included a 100-meter run, a 400-meter run, softball throw, javelin throw and golf. On Thursday, the athletes will participate in a bowling competition. Friday will be basketball and the closing ceremonies with awards to be presented to the athletes.

The team t-shirts held the motto, “Even 2020 Can’t Stop Us,” a philosophy that staff at tje Friends Forever Social Education Center have taken to heart. The Friends Forever Games conclude on Friday with the closing ceremonies.

The weather was kind cold and wet all week and their were snowflakes in the air Monday. Swon said that didn’t seem to bother the members.

“The t-shirts that we made for the members say, ‘Even 2020 can’t stop us.’ They have really embraced that idea,” Swon said. “They are troopers, for sure.”

A Friends Forever member keeps close tally on the t-ball score between the Blue and Green team. She notched a mark for each run across the plate. The organiation is hosting a week-long competition at the Friends Forever Social Education Center in Webster City.

A batter lines up hit during a t-ball game Wednsday at Friends Forever Social Education Center. The members took part in variety of team games Wednesday at the clubhouse, 500 Fairmeadow Drive, in Webster City.

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