MT. VERNON — The Special Olympic Region K Spring Games in Mt. Vernon are coming up. The annual event is expected to have more than 400 athletes to compete this Friday at the games at Mt. Vernon Township High School’s new campus.

Rhonda Knight is the Co-Director of Region K for Special Olympics Illinois. She says the games mean so much to those who get to compete.

The games will start at 9:30 Friday morning and run until 2 p.m. Gold medal winners at the Mt. Vernon games will qualify for the Special Olympics Illinois State Summer Games from June 7-9 at Illinois State University in Normal.