The Paralympic Games, the international competition for physically challenged athletes, begin Sept. 6 in China, using the same venues as the Olympic Games.

Amazingly, two athletes with local ties will be competing: Teenage swimmer Susan Beth Scott and three-time Paralympic Games athlete Jill Kennedy.

Scott, who was featured in this Southeast Missourian story, is a swimmer who has been training for the last year in Colorado Springs, Colo. The former Gators and Cape Central swimmer has set world records in the events leading up to the Paralympics.

Kennedy, who competed as a powerlifter in Sydney in 2000 and switched to track and field in 2004, was featured in this Southeast Missourian article.

Kennedy, who was raised in Zalma and attended Southeast Missouri State, now lives and works near Charlottesville, Va.

She wrote a recap of her first week of traveling, which took the team to Japan to prepare for the Paralympics.

You can check out the entire report on pdf here, with photos.

Here are some of the highlights:

Thursday, Aug. 21 (Colorado Springs)

"Travel to the Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center (CSOTC) for team processing. After arriving I went through "apparel" which means getting a ton of clothes, shoes, hats, luggage. Many of which are required at functions such as Opening and Closing Ceremonies, the others are just for our use.

"I was thinking that this might be my last time through this process so I decided to take time and really enjoy it. Many of the folks staffing the various booths were old hands and I'd met them once or twice before. I really had a fun joking, laughing and teasing them. There are tailors on hand to alter the clothes. Good thing because the Opening Ceremonies pants needed about 18 inches taken off. Linda, the boss, let me trade the girl's scarf for the boys tie. She was thinking about it, looking dubious and I said, "Is there any reason why not?" There must not have been because she brought me one. It was a blast.

The commemorative ring people were fun too. The lady in charge said, 'Now, we are not allowed to ask to take a picture with you. But ... you can ask for a picture with us' (subtle). So, I asked. I put sample rings on every finger for the photo and that cracked them (and me) up.

"After dinner, more trying on clothes. This time for the competition gear. This took much less time, spandex is easier to fit."

Friday, Aug. 22 (Colorado Springs)

"Many meetings on Chinese Culture, how to behave, talk to reporters, flag etiquette, sportsmanship, inspirational ... stuff. 3.5 hours worth. Then photos, signing about a million banners, hats, shirts (glad to do it), going over medical forms (is it still forgery if you have a friend sign a doctors name?) and other paper work.

"In the late afternoon we went to the track for some actual throwing.

"That evening we had the opportunity to ship excess things home. I sent home a box of clothes that were too big or wouldn't be needed (like the sweater vest for the 100 degree weather). We also had to have our checked bags turned in that evening."

Saturday, Aug. 23 (Flying to Japan)

"The Track & Field and Swimming Teams left the OTC (Olympic Training Center) in Colorado Springs, CO at around 8:00 a.m. We were on a charter flight which made traveling much more comfortable since we were the only ones on the plane. Everyone had an aisle seat with no seatmate. The flight to Anchorage, Alaska was about 5.5 hours. We did not deplane for the next leg to Japan, which was about 8.5 hours."

Sunday, Aug. 24 (Kadena Air Force Base, Okinawa, Japan)

"Ugg, what day is it? What time is it? We landed in Kadena Air Force Base in Japan around 5:00 pm. By the time we unloaded the team and gear it was about 7:00 pm. We were bused to the on base Shogun Hotel and handed off to our sponsors. Mine is Lesa Blose, an Air Force officer. She was friendly, welcoming and very helpful. She showed me to the room and then to the briefing and dinner. After the very nice buffet dinner we were briefed by the Kadena folks on general things to know: watch for snakes, wash your hands, drink lots of water-it's hot, it is typhoon season, don't get arrested because the police can detain you for 23 days without charges or a lawyer. Then to the all team meeting at 9:00 pm where I have almost no idea what was talked about because my eyes were glazing. Then were free to go. Too bad I remembered WHERE my room was in the building, just not the room number or which building. So, had to wait for the staff meeting to be over to ask the team leader Tina, "Duh, what's my room number?"

Monday, Aug. 25

"Got up early and had a snack. Figured out that I can get wifi in the room if I open the door and set the computer in the doorway. Made a call via Skype, which worked great. Talked on the phone for about 2.5 cents per minute. The quality was better than cell phone calls made from my house. Made me think of contacting home when I first started competing. When Dad went with me to Dubai in 1998, it cost him about 5 dollars a minute and the call had to be made from the front desk. In 1999 from Spain, the easiest way to communicate with home was to have the hotel send/receive faxes for a couple bucks per page.

"Then found breakfast in the Officers Club and came back to organize stuff which was all a jumble.

"Pile A -- new stuff I can't or won't wear (not much, sent most of it home before leaving the Olympic Training Center)

"Pile B -- new stuff I will wear

"Pile C -- all old, plain crap I like to wear much better than all the high tech, shiny new Nike gear

"Pile D -- throwing equipment and other gear

"Pile E -- food and snacks

"Walked around, rested and hung out with some friends, lunch, received cell phones, meeting.

"In afternoon, we went to a high school track at the Marine base for throwing. It looked like a high school track Anywhere, USA. ..."

Tuesday, Aug. 26

"Morning throwing session. After lunch we headed down to the BX (Base Exchange) that looked exactly like a K-mart. I got some pretty exotic things, post cards and a cable for the camera. Then a "light and fast" lifting session in the afternoon. Off to an equally exotic dinner at Macaroni Grill."

Wednesday, Aug. 27

"We were off today so took full advantage and goofed off. Julie, a new thrower, was going to the beach with her sponsor and invited Scott Danberg and me along. First we went to the Nakagusku Castle or rather its ruins. Standing on top the walls there was a beautiful view of the island. We decided we would need to fuel up before swimming so stopped as a little Hawaiian place Dave (Julie's sponsor) really likes. Then off to the beach to snorkel. This was only the second time I've swum in the ocean and first time to snorkel in the ocean. My favorite coral formations where the giant purple ones, of course. I saw most of the cast of "Finding Nemo" and some creepy snake like things that barely move. But they do move enough that the first one scared the crap out of me.

"Will have to add photos later because as it turns out, my camera and salt water are not compatible. Who knew? Looks like another trip back to the BX."