Special Olympics Delaware Cancels Summer Games Over COVID-19

Ukee Washington reports.

WE ARE TOLD THAT NO ONE WASINJURED.THEY CAN ALL BREATHE CLEARLY.ACROSS THE COUNTRY, SUMMERSPORTS PROGRAMS FACING SOMETOUGH CHOICES BECAUSE OF THECORONAVIRUS AND ONE OF THEM ISSPECIAL OLYMPICS.UKEE IS PRACTICING SOCIALDISTANCING SO HE'S JOINING USFROM DELAWARE WITH MORE ONTHIS STORY.THIS IS SUCH A BUMMER FORTHESE ATHLETES.Reporter: IT REALLY REALLYIS, JESSICA, NOT ONLY HERE BUTALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY, YES,DELAWARE SPECIAL OLYMPICS MADETHE SPECIAL DECISION TO CANCELTHE SUMMER GAMES, AND STATEAND REGIONAL SPECIAL OLYMPICSGROUPS.THEY SAY HEALTH AND SAFETY OFCOURSE THE MOST IMPORTANTTHING RIGHT NOW.AND WE TALKED TO MARY JOEGILLIGAN TODAY IN MIDDLETOWNDELAWARE.HER 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTERAMANDA WAS TRAINING TO COMPETEIN POWER LIFTING.AMANDA AND TEAMMATES WEREENJOYING TRAINING EVERY SUNDAYBUT THEY HAD TO STOP TRAININGAT THE GYM ABOUT A MONTH AGO,AND BECAUSE IT JUST WASN'TSAFE, DUE TO THE TIMES THAT WENOW LIVE.THEN ON TUESDAY YESTERDAY WORDCAME THAT THE GAMES WERE, YES,CALLED OFF.JUST MISS EVERYBODY.WE MISS SEEING EVERYBODY,EVERY SUNDAY.WE WILL MISS PARTICIPATING INTHOSE AWESOME SUMMER GAMES,BUT AGAIN, THEY JUST MADE THEBEST DECISION FOR EVERYBODY.A LOT OF OUR ATHLETES HAVESIGNIFICANT HEALTH ISSUES.THERE IS NO OTHER OPTION THEYCOULD HAVE TAKEN.THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS INDELAWARE ALSO ALSO SUPPOSED TOHAVE ANNUAL TORCH RUN AS WELL,THEY SAY THEY ARE PLANNING AVIRTUAL CHALLENGE NOW TOREPLACE IT.ONCE AGAIN, WE ALL STANDTOGETHER, WE STAND TOGETHERAPART AND WE WILL GET THROUGHTHIS.AND I'M NOT GOING TO SHAVEUNTIL WE DO.JESSICA, I DON'T KNOW.(LAUGHING).CHECK WITH THE BOSSES FORME, SEE IF I CAN GO WITH ITBUT CHECK WITH THE BOSSES FORME.I WON'T SHAVE UNTIL WE DO.5:00 SHADOW, 4:18, UKEE.