Special Olympics Arkansas special for the Stouts

By Ethan Nahté

SEARCY, AR — Harding University was the host for the 2023 Special Olympics Arkansas Summer Games on May 19 and 20. More than 1,400 athletes and coaches were anticipated to attend the event. Special Olympics Arkansas Area 14, which encompasses the counties of Polk, Scott, Yell and Logan, had 35 athletes, 16 coaches and three partners attended the event.

Athletes competed in a variety of sports including track and field, boccie, swimming, flag football, power-lifting and tennis.

Like the Olympic Games most people are familiar with, the Special Olympics Arkansas (SOA) events began in advance with the Law Enforcement Torch Run. The run began Monday, May 15, commencing a three-day journey in which officers carried the “Flame of Hope” from all four corners of the state.

Thursday, May 18, Guardians of the Flame converged on the steps of the Arkansas State Capitol, located at 500 Woodlane St. in Little Rock, to join their flames in a ceremonial lighting of the Final Leg Torch. The Final Leg is a 50-mile continuous run to Searcy which officers completed by running the Flame of Hope into the opening ceremonies.

Mena Police Officer Steven Stout was unable to participate in the event. Stout was recently assisting a driver of a stalled vehicle, helping to push their vehicle out of the road when he tore something in his leg. It landed him in a walking boot, which was removed Wednesday, the day before the awards cer-