Around 350 athletes from across Vermont competing in Special Olympics at UVM [Video]

HUNDREDS FROM ALL OVER VERMONT GATHERING AT U- V-M TONIGHT… COMPETING IN THIS YEAR’S SPECIAL OLYMPICS. IT MARKS THE FIRST STATEWIDE SUMMER GAMES SINCE THE PANDEMIC. NBC5’S AMANDA MARTIN-RYAN WAS THERE FOR TODAY’S OPENING CEREMONIES… AND HAS MORE ON WHY THIS YEAR’S COMPETITIONS… CARRY SO MUCH MEANING FOR THE ATHLETES AND THEIR TEAMS. RETURNING FROM A FIVE YEAR HIATUS– 347 ATHLETES BROUGHT LOTS OF ENERGY AND EXCITEMENT TO PATRICK GYM. BUT FOR SOME THE COMPETITION IS BITTERSWEET. 0:03 <SIRENS> A CHALLENGING FINAL LEG OF THE LAW ENFORCEMENT TORCH RUN… RUNNING UPHILL ON THE UVM CAMPUS. BUT-THE CROWD WAITING ON THE OTHER SIDE… 0:02 <ATHLETES APPLAUDING OFFICERS> IS A REMINDER FOR ALL THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO TURNED OUT friday… HOW MUCH THEIR SUPPORT MEANS. 0:02 <TORCH LIGHTING APPLAUSE.> AS IMPORTANT AS COMPETING IS FOR THE ATHLETES… THE ONES WE CAUGHT UP WITH- ARE IN IT FOR FRIENDSHIP. 15;41;06;01 0:04 Keegin Arace/Northshire …