Students from the Tri-City area will gather in Fremont, California on Friday to play Olympic games.
“This is the first time Newark has ever had a special-ed Olympics,” said James Michael Arthur, who has lived in Newark his whole life. Arthur helped organize the event.
Students from Newark, Fremont, and Union City will hit the ground running on Friday at 9 a.m. at American High School to start the games. Kids will parade around the field bearing an Olympic torch during a ceremony that opens the games.
Arthur said the teams have been practicing on Tuesdays and Thursdays. “My kids cannot wait to be a part of this event, to know that they’re the center of the event,” he said, about the team he has been coaching in preparation for the games.
Arthur said the games were inspired by similar event held in Los Gatos. His colleague was enthralled by the concept and wanted to bring it across the bay to give local students a chance to play sports with their peers.
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