TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The Special Olympics has dropped a coronavirus vaccine mandate for its games in Orlando after Florida moved to fine the organization $27.5 million for violating a state law against such requirements.
Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday announced the organization had removed the requirement for its competition in the state, which is scheduled to run June 5 to June 12.
100 Special Olympics Indiana athletes, Unified partners and coaches, collectively known as Team Indiana, left for Orlando Saturday.
The USA Games will feature competition in 19 Olympic-type sports, with Team Indiana fielding teams for basketball, bocce, bowling, golf, softball, swimming, track and field, and volleyball and youth leadership.
The Florida health department notified the Special Olympics of the fine in a letter Thursday that said the organization would be fined $27.5 million for 5,500 violations of state law for requiring proof of coronavirus vaccination for attendees or participants.
-
LeBron scores 30, Lakers avoid 1st-round elimination with win over Denver
The Los Angeles Lakers finally cracked the Denver Nuggets' mastery of this rivalry and extended their playoff lives for at least another game.Indianapolis youth lead peace walk pushing to end gun violence in the city
As National Youth Violence Prevention Week ended, dozens of community members participated in the city's first ever joint peace walk.IMPD investigating after person was found dead at gas station on northwest side
Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department officers responded to a Marathon gas station on North High School Road and West 38th Street on reports of a person down at around 9 p.m.Walk to End Epilepsy hopes to raise money, awareness for the disease
The walk aims to support more than 70,000 Hoosiers living with epilepsy, a neurological disease without a cure that causes seizures.