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.
-
New era of college football could help other teams replicate Indiana's rise
Indiana has made the type of turnaround that had only happened once before at the power-conference level over the last decade.
73-year-old man dead after being hit by vehicle on Indy’s northwest side
A 73-year-old man was killed after being struck by a vehicle on the northwest side of Indianapolis on Friday, Nov. 15.
Missing 38-year-old from Greenwood located safely
Indiana State Police have cancelled a Silver Alert for a 38-year-old man after he was found safely on Tuesday.
Indy man arrested for robbing 3 men putting up siding on a home at gunpoint
Police have arrested a man accused of robbing three men at gunpoint on Saturday as they put up siding on a home.
