KANSAS CITY, Mo. — After the Special Olympics Missouri Training for Life Campus in Jefferson City was damaged Wednesday by a tornado, officials were forced to cancel the State Summer Games planned for next week in Springfield, Missouri.
Almost every window in the building had shattered, glass littered the hallways, the roof of the gym had a hole and the turf on the track was damaged.
While the State Summer Games weren't going to be played there, a lot of Special Olympics Missouri's equipment was housed there and the staff primarily resides in Jeff City. The immediate focus was on salvaging things from the office, moving to a temporary office and regrouping as a community.
That meant the State Summer Games, which had been scheduled for May 31 to June 2, couldn't be staged.
"There are just too many logistical challenges,” Special Olympics Missouri Senior Director of Communications Mandi Ballinger said. “It was a really hard decision, and none of use were happy about it. But we’re not super heroes. If we had two weeks, I think we could have pulled it off, but one week just wasn’t enough time.”
Bobby Williams, a Special Olympics athlete from Lee's Summit, was a bit bummed out by the decision.
"(I) felt great representing my state Missouri,” he said.
Williams has competed in the Missouri games for 16 years. He’s had success too, winning gold and silver medals during the 2015 Special Olympics World Games in Los Angeles.
“Three years ago at the World Games, I got a gold medal in doubles,” he said.
Williams also has competed in the Special Olympics USA Games twice. He plays tennis, bowls and swims among other sports.
With the State Summer Games set for next week, Williams had been training hard before he found about the tornado and the decision to cancel the event.
"Bobby and I were down there for the opening (of the Training for Life Campus)," Williams' mother, Sharon, said. "It was so great to see the opening. The staff in Jefferson City work extremely hard to pull all these events off.”
Still, Sharon was sad for the athletes when she heard the State Games were canceled.
"I think they had to do what is best for the Special Olympics, do what is best for the staff there in Jefferson City, because they are going through a lot I know,” she said.
While disappointed, Bobby was trying to keep things in the proper perspective.
"The great thing, my mom said nobody got hurt at least," Bobby said. "I am happy about that at least."
