For 32 years, athletes from the Dallas, Wilcox and Perry County have come together to compete, but, even more important, have fun.

On April 19, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Special Olympics will again come to Selma’s Memorial Stadium, with more than 125 athletes ready to show their skills on the track and in the field.

“I feel like the Special Olympics gives them (participants) a chance to compete and show what they can do, just like a normal track even,” Floyd Sanders, Special Olympic coordinator for Selma, said. “We have events just like they did with the high schools out here (Monday).”

According to the Special Olympics website, the mission of the games is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

Sanders said that is exactly what happens in Selma.

“We have such great community support around here,” Sanders said. “It’s so much, that I would hate to name individual organizations for fear of leaving someone out, but we normally have about 300 volunteers come out to help with the event.”

The athletes will run their fair share of regular track events, such as the shot put, 100 and 400-meter dashes and relays.

There are also modified events like the 25-meter walk, wheelchair races and distance kick for those who aren’t physically able to participate in the regular events.

“We want everyone to have a chance to have a good time,” Sanders said. “We have all of these participants who are excited to participate, so we want events that they can join in with.”

Some of the athletes themselves have already started their preparation, Sanders said.

“We have been out walking in Bloch Park everyday that it has been sunny since January,” Sanders said. “It gets them ready and is fun to get outside.”