The North Park athletic department hosted its first-ever Special Olympics Day in conjunction with NCAA Division III Week Thursday, April 12 at the Helwig Recreation Center.

Over 40 Special Olympics athletes took part in practice sessions and games which ranged from a huge game of Sharks and Minnows and the 100-meter dash as well as the 4 x 100-meter relay. The session was a preparation for the group for their annual track meet coming up in a few weeks.

“The day was a huge success,” North Park assistant athletic director and assistant women's basketball coach Rachel Theodore said.  “The Special Olympics athletes were already asking when they could come back.”

In addition to women's basketball assisting in the games and practice, the North Park men's soccer team took part in the day as well. The afternoon started out with stretching, then student-athletes from both the basketball and soccer teams led the athletes to different 20-minute stations around the recreational center.

“It was a lot of fun,” Theodore said. “This is something that's going to be an annual event and we're going to be involving other teams on campus to participate.”

The Special Olympic athletes will be returning Thursday, May 3 to take part in another day of games and practice. The men's soccer team will head that event.