COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) _ Students from 27 high schools, prep schools and middle schools in central South Carolina are getting a chance to have free sports physicals so they can participate in athletics.

The exams are taking place Saturday at the Carolina Coliseum in Columbia. The exams are being conducted by medical staff from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Delta Dental and Palmetto Health Children’s Hospital.

The Marcus Lattimore Foundation is helping host the 14th annual event for the participating schools. It is meant to help identify potential health risks for students prior to athletic competition.

Health information is also being given to school coaches, parents and the athletes by the university’s medical school staff and athletic training education program.