Family, friends and spectators cheered teams from Natchitoches, Sabine and Red River parishes during opening ceremonies of the Red River Special Olympics at Northwestern State University Tuesday.

The track and field competitions were organized by NSU’s President’s Leadership Program with assistance from NSU Athletics, the Natchitoches Jaycees, area law enforcement agencies and other volunteer groups.

Special Olympics is a global movement that unleashes the human spirit through the transformative power and joy of sports. The motto of Special Olympics inspires thousands of communities to support the organization: “Let me win. But if I cannot win let me be brave in the attempt.”