The signs have been up for several days now: basketball, track, swimming, golf.

This week, volunteers have readied venues and met to prepare for events.

Friday afternoon, law enforcement offices from across the state participated in a torch run, culminating on the Troy University campus.

And that evening, in a spectacular opening ceremony complete with fireworks, more than 1,000 athletes of all ages came together to participate in the Special Olympics State Games, being held this weekend at Troy University.

This is the seventh year the university has hosted this event here in Troy, and each year we look forward to this weekend with unabandoned glee. The Special Olympians are truly a remarkable group of athletes – enthusiastic, loving, thrilling to watch and passionate about their sports and their efforts. Their joy in competing and their thrill in taking part in the games is contagious, as any of the hundreds of volunteers will be quick to agree.

So we encourage you to take a few minutes this weekend to stop by one of the events, whether it’s swimming or bowling, track or sofball, boccee or cycling, flag football, golf, or gymnastics. Spend a little time cheering on our visiting athletes and the folks who are working with them.

Events begin at 9 a.m. Satuday and closing ceremonies take place at 9 a.m. Sunday.