RAPID CITY, SD – Special Olympics South Dakota’s 10^th Annual State Fall Classic Tournament kicked off in Rapid City Friday morning.

The tournament will take place Friday through Sunday and include more than 500 Special Olympics athletes competing bocce ball and softball.

On Friday, the Rapid City Bocce Complex at West Memorial Park was home to hundreds of athletes and families on hand to watch the opening ceremony and begin play. More than 50 teams were competing in the day-long tournament.

More than 50 delegates (teams) will be competing this weekend.

“The number one thing is we want to provide opportunities to our athletes and get them included in the community,” Nick Moen, President and CEO, Special Olympics South Dakota, said. “The city of Rapid City has been instrumental in this.”

Special Olympics South Dakota hosts more than 3,000 athletes across South Dakota in sports ranging from skiing and basketball to bocce and bowling and has been working with communities or decades.

“I had an athlete come to me at summer games (in Spearfish) and had said to me he’d been competing for over 40 years,” Moen said. “The thing that really struck a chord for me with that, is that’s older than I am. So, when I put it into perspective for what Special Olympics has meant for not just those athletes but our young athletes … ages 2 to 7 – I want to capture people with intellectual disabilities and make sure Special Olympics is there for them.”

The 43^rd annual softball tournament will be held on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and continues Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Star of the West.

The Rapid City Moose Lodge presents a check to Nick Moen, President and CEO, Special Olympics South Dakota, for Special Olympics programs in the community.

Rapid City Mayor Jason Salamun and an athlete carry the Olympic flame to open the games.

Mayor Jason Salamun and Police Chief Don Hedrick pose with an athlete prior to the opening ceremonies Friday morning at the bocce complex on Omaha Street.

Nugget, the Rapid City Rush mascot, had plenty of fans at the event.