Beginning today, about 2,800 participants from across Washington state will compete in the 41st annual Washington Special Olympics at Joint Base Lewis McChord. The opening ceremony of the three-day event took place last night in JBLM's Hangar 1. Army Staff Sgt. Dayan Neely with the 20th Public Affairs Detachment was at the ceremony. JBLM has been hosting the Special Olympics for more than 40 years, with sports like swimming, soccer, track and field, powerlifting, and cycling. According to Neely, "Lt. Gen. Stephen R. Lanza, I Corps commander, was a keynote speaker at the ceremony. Quoting the Seattle Seahawks' head coach, Pete Carroll, Lanza said, ‘If you wanna win for the rest of your life, you've gotta compete.' This set the tone for the athletes and supporters throughout the rest of the ceremony, which ended in celebrational dance to music provided by the I Corps band."

Below are the scenes Neely captured:

A young athlete competing in the Washginton Special Olympics extends high-fives to the supporting crowd as he and more than 2,800 athletes are welcomed to this year's SOWA games, May 30, 2014. Photo credit: Army Staff Sgt. Dayan Neely, 20th Public Affairs Detachment

A Wenatchee athlete extends high-fives to the supporting crowd. Photo credit: Army Staff Sgt. Dayan Neely, 20th Public Affairs Detachment

A young Federal Way athlete extends high-fives. Photo credit: Army Staff Sgt. Dayan Neely, 20th Public Affairs Detachment

A young athlete rides her father's shoulders as the supporting crowd cheers them. Photo credit: Army Staff Sgt. Dayan Neely, 20th Public Affairs Detachment

A young athlete lights the ceremonial torch to start the games. Photo credit: Army Staff Sgt. Dayan Neely, 20th Public Affairs Detachment