Two Utah teams are in Orlando, Florida for the Special Olympics

ORLANDO, Florida – They’ve been ready a very long time for this, and when that second lastly got here for these Utah athletes, it was all smiles.

Identical to the Olympics, the Nationwide Particular Olympics USA Video games is held each 4 years. This time it’s in Orlando, Florida.

Utah has all the time had particular person athletes competing, however for the primary time in a very long time, now we have groups competing this yr as nicely.

However in an effort to get right here, it took a whole lot of laborious work and needed to be carried out again house in Utah.

Wasatch Excessive Faculty’s Unified basketball staff has been training for months after discovering out final September that they’d signify Utah within the Nationwide Video games.

“I assumed we’d be taking part in for the college,” mentioned Noah Wright of Wasatch Excessive Faculty Unified Basketball. “I used to be slightly nervous, however now that I do know we’re taking part in for the state? That’s the actually nervous half.”

Even nonetheless, Noah Wright and his teammates couldn’t wait to go.

Realizing many individuals are cheering them on again house, nicely, the scoreboard doesn’t actually matter.

“So long as I’m with my staff, yeah,” Wright mentioned.

That’s the identical method Utah’s different staff competing in these Video games feels.

Tooele Excessive Faculty Unified Soccer (Credit score: Alex Cabrero)

The soccer gamers for Tooele Excessive Faculty’s Unified staff say all these practices have introduced them even nearer.

“We get alongside very well,” mentioned Hanna Bowen with Tooele Excessive Faculty Unified Soccer.

“Yeah, like we’ve been doing issues at one another’s homes each weekend hanging out. it’s a lot enjoyable,” mentioned Kami Dahl, additionally with Tooele Excessive Faculty Unified Soccer

And that’s the phrase, enjoyable. It’s what the Particular Olympics is all about.

Certain, each athlete right here wish to win Gold, however there are some issues extra necessary than profitable.

 “I believe we’ve all grow to be greatest pals right here,” mentioned Tooele Excessive Faculty Unified Soccer’s Sami Emett. “That is everybody’s glad place.”

The competitors will get going tomorrow morning in Orlando as about 38 athletes signify Utah within the Olympics.