More than 90,000 rubber ducks splashed into the Chicago River during the annual Chicago Ducky Derby. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Associated Press.
The ducks were released from the Columbus Drive bridge and floated for about 15 minutes before a winner and runner-up were selected.
The event is a fundraiser for Special Olympics Illinois. The winning duck was chosen by Ducky Derby ambassador and 13-year Special Olympics athlete Becky Cavanagh. Cavanagh said her favorite part of Special Olympics is "making new friends."
Special Olympics Illinois organizes competitions for people with disabilities across the state. Sponsoring a "lone duck" costs $10, which provides an athlete lunch at a competition, while a "quack pack" of six ducks costs $30 and supplies gold medals for a team. The competition has raised more than $480,000.
The sponsor of the fastest duck wins an SUV, and the runner-up will win $2,500 in cash, said Pete Beale-DelVecchio, president of Special Olympics Illinois. He called the day "fantastic for our athletes."