For the 20th year, Eastern Kentucky University is playing host to the Kentucky Special Olympics.
This weekend, some three thousand people, including 13 hundred athletes, will compete in track and field, Bocce, gymnastics and flag football.
Special Olympics Kentucky President Trish Mazzoni is participating in her 27th games.
"I got involved and just really thought it was a unique experience for me in my young life and it really touched me and made an impression on me and I had an opportunity to get a job very early on and thought I'd do it for a couple of years and ended up doing it for going on, it will be 28 in August,” said Mazzoni.
Mazzoni says there is also an emphasis this year on the national competition.
"There are national games for Special Olympics and actually this happens to be one of those years. So we have these games, next week we take a team of 55 athletes and coaches to New Jersey to part in the 2014 U.S.A games,” added Mazzoni.
New this year is the young Special Olympians competition which involves two to seven year olds.
Mazzoni says, over the years, the number of athletes has increased. She says support from EKU and Richmond has made The Special Olympics a wonderful event.