By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
Special Olympics Kansas announced Monday four upcoming events have been canceled related to the ongoing spread of COVID-19, or coronavirus.
The 2020 State Basketball and Cheerleading Tournaments scheduled for March 20 and 21 in Hays was included in the canceled events.
"While this news is incredibly disappointing for all of us, the health and safety of our athletes, volunteers, staff and partners remains our top priority," said John Lair, president and CEO of Special Olympics Kansas in a statement announcing the cancelation.
After working with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the national Special Olympics organization to ensure the safety of participants and others, the group made the decision in light of the recent confirmation of the virus in Kansas and surrounding states.
"We serve a population where many are at a heightened risk due to age and/or compromised immune systems, and our competitions require people to travel from all parts of the state to compete," Lair said. "With this news about confirmed and possible suspected cases, we no longer believe that we can proceed with the Games and be sure we are providing a safe and healthy environment, regardless of what precautionary steps and/or preventative measures we might implement."
The group said the decision to cancel the events is difficult but cited safety as being paramount.
"While canceling events is truly disappointing for athletes who have trained for months to compete — as well as for the volunteers, family, friends and our staff and board who support them and look forward to cheering for them — we know that our love of sport doesn’t compare to the importance of protecting the health and safety of all involved," Lair said.
The annual event brings hundreds of people to Hays, but Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau executive director Melissa Dixon said, she understands the decision.
"We are very disappointed to hear the Special Olympics Kansas event is not coming to Hays this year, but we totally understand the health of those athletes needs to be our first priority," Dixon said.
Other canceled events include the 2020 State Basketball and Cheerleading Tournaments scheduled for March 14 and 15 in Topeka, all Young Athletes Programs scheduled March 9 to 23, all local team practices and the KU Unified Basketball Championship game scheduled for March 19.
The group said it will re-evaluate the situation March 23 in regard to other upcoming events.
For updates from Special, Olympics Kansas visit the organization's Facebook page or the website, ksso.org.