COLUMBUS, Ohio — More than 2,400 athletes and Unified partners from across Ohio will compete on the campus of The Ohio State University later this month when Special Olympics Ohio holds its annual State Summer Games May 29 through 31.
The event, the organization’s largest state-level competition of the year, will draw participants from 88 local Special Olympics programs across Ohio. They will be supported by 600 coaches and approximately 1,000 volunteers throughout the weekend.
Athletes will compete in track and field, bocce, bowling, powerlifting, tennis, and volleyball. Free health screenings and education will also be available through the Healthy Athletes program, which provides healthcare students and professionals with training in caring for people with intellectual disabilities. This year marks the launch of EmpowerHER, a new program offering female Special Olympics athletes health education and women’s health supplies.
The Opening Ceremony on Friday, May 29, will feature the Parade of Athletes and the Final Leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run, which will carry the Flame of Hope into the stadium to light the cauldron and officially open competition.
“For our athletes, this is the moment they’ve been working toward — months of training, perseverance, and courage all coming together,” said Jessica Stewart, president and CEO of Special Olympics Ohio.
The event is presented by The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.