Some very special Bruins will begin their pursuit of gold this week.

The 39th Annual Summer Games for Special Olympics Oklahoma are scheduled to take place in Stillwater from May 7-9. The Bartlesville Public School District will send 32 athletes to the games as well as 12 coaches. In all, an estimated 4,300 athletes and more than 400 volunteers are expected to take part in the excitement.

“Last year, we did very well,” says special education instructor Sandy Bliss, who is in her 13th year as the Bartlesville Public School District's Special Olympics team coach. “Almost everyone brought home at least one gold medal.

“I think everyone will do very well this year.”

The Summer Games will feature 10 sports – aquatics, athletics (track and field), bocce, bowling, golf, horseshoes, powerlifting, unified 3-on-3 basketball and unified softball – as well as motor activity and “stars of the future” events. Opening ceremonies are scheduled for May 7 at Gallagher Iba Arena on the Oklahoma State University campus, featuring the theme “Be a fan.” Doors will open for the opening ceremonies at 6:30 p.m. with pre-show entertainment provided by D.J. Brandon Grell and Rolling Thunder. The opening ceremonies will officially kick off at 7:30 p.m. with the traditional Parade of Athletes.

The Bruin Special Olympics athletes honed their skills in Dewey on March 29 at an area meet. The vast majority of the athletes collected gold and silver medals.

The Bruins will be sent off to the Summer Games in style on the morning of May 7. As has become tradition within the district, students, staff members and other supporters will gather outside of Bartlesville High School as the athletes board the bus bound for Stillwater . Band and pom members as well as cheerleaders are expected to be on hand for the 7 a.m. event and the bus will receive an official police escort as it rolls away from BHS and toward the southern Bartlesville city limits. Charlie Taraboletti, operations manager for KWON 1400 AM/KYFM 100.1 FM/KRIG 104.9 FM/KPGM 1500 AM, will serve as the master of ceremonies. Everyone is invited to attend.

Once the Bruins get to Stillwater , they will be able to stay in the dorms on the OSU campus with the other athletes. On the evening of May 8, they will take part in a dance held on the football field at Stillwater High School .

Those who would like to gather more information on the 39 th Annual Summer Games for Special Olympics Oklahoma can call (800) 722-9004 or go online to www.sook.org .

“Everyone is definitely excited about the Summer Games,” says Bliss. “The whole event is a lot of fun.

Bartlesville Public Schools, David Austin, Community Relations Coordinator