Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon launched the Special Olympics 2013 Spring Games Friday in Carbondale.
More than 500 athletes are competing in track and field events. More than 600 friends and family are expected to cheer them on. The gold-medal winners from area games will move on to compete in the Special Olympics State Summer Games at Illinois State University in June.
Simon says the athletes put a great deal of time and energy into preparing for the games and she looks forward to cheering for them. Other Special Olympics games are being held across the state starting Friday.
