After hosting the Special Olympics Saskatchewan Summer Games earlier this year, the local organization is hoping to build off the momentum gained from that event.

Special Olympics Moose Jaw is hosting an inaugural season kick-off barbecue on Saturday at YaraCentre.

The barbecue, which will run from 11-1pm on Saturday, will allow returning athletes and volunteers to register for the season, but they’re also hoping to attract new athletes and volunteers to help expand this season.

“Anyone interested in volunteering with us can come and get a little bit more information before they choose to register,” said Theresia Cooper, chair of Special Olympics Moose Jaw.

The amount of commitment for volunteering is up to the volunteer with Cooper saying that they can volunteer as little as one hour per week.

“It depends on the role that you take on,” she said. “We have event volunteers that volunteer every once in a while and then we also have our coaches and volunteer support, so that’s about an hour a week if you show up for the volunteer piece of it, but the coaches and assistant coaches have a bit more commitment.”

Cooper added you that you don’t need any experience to coach as Special Olympics will provide all the training.

Anyone age eight and up can take part in the variety of Special Olympic sports that are offered here in Moose Jaw, but Cooper said they’re hoping that they can add some more sports and age groups to the slate this year.

“Currently we don’t have a youth program, we’re hoping to get one up and running this year, pending interest from athletes and volunteers,” said Cooper. “We currently offer bocce ball, soccer, bowling, swimming and floor hockey, but, again, we’re hoping to expand this year, so we are actually asking people to sign up for an array of sports so we can offer more this year.”

The barbecue will run until 1 p.m. on Saturday and then it will be followed by the athletes competing in a bocce ball tournament, which will be held from 1-3 p.m.

The Special Olympics Moose Jaw will also be hosting their annual general meeting on Saturday at 3 p.m. at YaraCentre.

For more information, you can contact Theresia Cooper at 306-313-8773.