LONG BEACH -- About 1,500 athletes and their coaches will converge at Cal State Long Beach this weekend when the university hosts the Special Olympics Southern California games for the fifth consecutive year.

The event provides training and competition in Olympic-like sports for people with mental retardation or closely-related developmental disabilities. Athletes also will have an opportunity to compete at this year's Special Olympics World Summer Games in Dublin, Ireland, from June 21-29.

The opening ceremony, at 7 p.m. Friday at the Pyramid, will feature the end of a Law Enforcement Torch Run that began May 27, involving more than 3,500 officers on seven routes across Southern California.

Admission to all Special Olym pics events is free. Competitions in aquatics, athletics, basketball, bocce, gymnastics and tennis will be held at CSULB, while a golf tournament will be held at Long Beach Recreation Park South Golf Course at 5000 E. Seventh St.

Competitions in all sports will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m Sunday. Live bands, dancers and athletic exhibitions also will take place at the Sports Expo Park, near the university athletic field, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m Sunday .

The games will wrap up Sunday at the Sports Expo Park, with a closing ceremony featuring the Greenway School of Irish Dance and the Millennium Dancers, starting at 2 p.m.

Free parking for CSULB events will be available in the parking structure near the Pyramid, which is accessible from the Meriam Way entrance off Atherton Street.

For more information, call Special Olympics Southern California at (310) 215-8380 or visit www.sosc.org.