BELMONT — The second annual Belmont County Special Olympics Yingling Memorial takes place this Sunday featuring former coordinator Virgil Yingling’s favorite sport to watch, bocce ball.

The event will be from 1-4 p.m. Sunday at the beach shelter at Barkcamp State Park, 65330 Barkcamp Park Road, Belmont. There will be a bocce tournament and food including pizza, chips and desserts as well as music. People are also encouraged to bring a covered dish if they would like to do so. Bocce is a sport where players roll balls toward a target ball, competing against opponents to see who can get the ball the closest to the target.

This event will be to honor Yingling’s dedication to the Belmont County Special Olympics. Special Olympics Coordinator Victoria Powell helped Yingling’s daughter Ciara Heilman, son Ty Anthony Yingling and wife Cecilia Yingling put this event together.

“It’s just to remember my dad and how much of an amazing man he was,” Heilman said. “I just want them to come and have a carefree day, and for them to have a good meal and have fun.”

Yingling’s favorite sport to watch the athletes play was bocce, which is why the event will have a tournament.

Heilman said Yingling loved the sport because no matter what someone’s capabilities, they can play it. Heilman’s brother and Yingling’s son is special needs and competes in the Belmont County Special Olympics.

“I think that he had a lot of interest in it,” she said. “He thought that it was fun. And another reason is so many athletes, no matter what your capabilities were, were able to play bocce because you didn’t necessarily have to be able to walk or run. … So my dad, I think, just had a soft spot for bocce.”

The Special Olympics happens all year round, with people participating in bowling, cheerleading, track and field and more. The ages of the athletes range anywhere from 14-60 and are not set to a certain age restriction.

At the event, around 50 athletes with disabilities will participate in the bocce tournament. The athletes are from all parts of Belmont County, from Bellaire, Union Local and Martins Ferry to Barnesville and St. Clairsville.

“I take great pride in having this event, so I can carry on my husband’s legacy and the huge role he played in the Belmont County Special Olympics organization,” Cecilia said. “I hope that the athletes can come out and have a fun day and remember Virgil.”

Yingling died in June 2023 after working as the Belmont County Special Olympics coordinator for seven years. The Special Olympics “provide year round sports training and competition opportunities to individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities in Belmont County,” according to its Facebook page. Heilman does not want her dad’s name to be forgotten because he meant a lot to the athletes.

“The athletes just found great comfort in my dad, and I think that he was just able to resonate with them because of my brother and just connect with them on a special level,” Heilman said.

Heilman said last year’s turnout was great with about 125 people showing up, including athletes, their providers and family members.

She said this event is an opportunity for all disabled athletes to get together, such as athletes who play basketball and athletes who run track.

“This allows anyone and everyone to come together. And so I think that it brings people that might not get to see each other very often, to come back with their community,” Heilman said. She said the athletes would call Yingling and let him know about their day and talk about their medical issues.

“My dad wanted nothing more than to give to those athletes,” Heilman said, “and he bent over backwards to give them, you know, to have fun and have good meals and happy bellies. So I think it’s just a way for us to bring back the community and to honor him in the best way we know how.”

Heilman said she still gets Facebook messages and phone calls from the athletes he worked with.

“So he definitely has a huge place in all their hearts … We wish Virgil was here for this, and so he just played a huge role in a lot of those athletes’ success and being able to do something outside of their daily routine.”