Special Olympics at CRCP
ST. LOUIS, MO – Students from Cardinal Ritter Prep High School will lend a hand to Special Olympians on Thursday, May 22, when Cardinal Ritter hosts the 2008 Special Olympic Track and Field event. The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Cardinal Ritter Prep’s field.
Nearly 250 Special Olympic athletes from 24 St. Louis Public Schools will take part in the athletic activities. Each athlete will participate in two events, including distance races, long jump and softball throw. Students from Cardinal Ritter Prep will be partnered with the athletes and additional Cardinal Ritter volunteers will be on hand to help the St. Louis Public School staff.
“Special Olympics gives special education students an opportunity to use their athletic abilities to practice, participate and compete -- in other words, to be true athletes,” said Rosalie Buscher, Special Olympics Coordinator for the St. Louis Public Schools.
Cardinal Ritter Prep students will also benefit from the event. "This is a great opportunity for our students to witness the power of overcoming challenges and obstacles through honest, hard work. In just a day, I think both sets of students will learn a lot from each other,” said Cardinal Ritter Prep President Leon Henderson.
Opening ceremonies include the traditional running of the torch around the track. Henderson will provide the welcome address to the athletes and volunteers. During the closing ceremonies, medalists from each sport will be recognized and presented with their medals.
Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School has educated students from the entire St. Louis region for more than 25 years and opened a new, state-of-the-art school in Grand Center in 2003. This year, as in years past, all Cardinal Ritter Prep seniors graduated and were accepted to college. Cardinal Ritter Prep is a coeducational high school accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. For more information, call (314) 446-5500 or visit www.cardinalritterprep.org.
