Beata Silemo and other athletes compete in the Special Olympics in Malmö

Beata Silemo takes in and pushes the ball away.

- 2.88! shouts the official with the measuring tape.

Beata Silemo gets a high five from a club friend. It was her longest thrust of the day.

- It's great fun to be here and compete, says the 28-year-old from Stockholm.

After persistent rain all week, the sun has broken out at Kulladal's IP in Malmö, just in time for the Special Olympics to start. It's an international sporting event for people with intellectual disabilities and 2,000 athletes from 25 countries have descended on the city to compete in eleven different sports.

For Beata Silemo, it's a busy day with 100 meters, shot put and distance.

- I am happy to attend an interview, but I have to check when I will be at the long jump, she says and runs over to her coach.

She gets the message that her start time is a few hours away, so now she gets a moment to catch her breath after competing in both the shot put and 100 meters during the morning.

- It's really busy. But it's fun to compete against your friends and against others. You have to try to do your best, she says.

In the shot put competition, she was pitted against international opposition from Finland, Belgium and France.

- It is exciting to meet others from other countries. They're hard to beat, but I'll try my best anyway.

What is the most fun about this competition?

- The opening yesterday was fun, staying in a hotel and meeting everyone, says Beata Silemo.

At the other end of the arena, Simon Holst from Kalmar SK comes walking with his club mates. He just ran 100 meters and crossed the finish line in 16.80 seconds.

- It went great. I came third in the hundred meter run and now it's the shot put, says Simon Holst.

What are your expectations this weekend?

- Becoming a professional!

What do you think is the best thing about athletics?

- You become so fucking cruel. You become rock hard and beefy, he says, flexing his biceps.

Participants and coaches sit in the stands and cheer on those who run, jump and throw. Ester Fehrs from IFK Mora FIK is in the middle of the shot put competition, but waiting for her turn, she steps aside to applaud and cheer when the hundred meter runners cross the finish line.

- It's fun to cheer everyone on, she says and smiles widely.

Rebeka Gepner from Estonia has traveled to Malmö to run 50 meters.

- It went very well. It's fun to be here, it was my first time flying an airplane when I went here. It went well, it wasn't scary at all, she says.

The big sports festival was inaugurated on Friday. The rain did not stop the participants who crowded in front of the stage where several artists performed. And just like at the regular Olympic Games, the Olympic flame was lit.

- I think it was the best. The opening was really fun, says Ester Fehrs.