11
May
2016
Grimes, IA – More than 2,600 athletes, 1,200 coaches and 2,000 volunteers are set to converge on the Iowa State University campus for the 32nd Annual Special Olympics Iowa Summer Games May 19-21. Events begin Thurs., May 19 with the Torch Run Final Leg bringing the Flame of Hope from downtown Des Moines to Hilton Coliseum for the Opening Ceremony presented by Hy-Vee beginning at 7 p.m.
Competition will begin Thursday, May 19 at 8:30 a.m. with tennis singles matches and individual skills at the Forker Building Tennis Courts. Cycling, team bocce, soccer and race walk competitions will also take place that day. Singles bocce, tennis doubles, aquatics, athletics (track and field) and developmental events will take place on Friday, May 20 with athletics competition continuing through Saturday, May 21.
“Our athletes have been training all year to prepare for Summer Games,” said Special Olympics Iowa CEO Gary Harms. “These three days provide the opportunity to experience the joy of inclusion, camaraderie, and competition in a setting that is truly focused on them as individuals, as team members and as a part of the community as a whole. They display their pride, unity, and courage—inspiring and inviting all to join them in the spirit of friendship. For over 30 years, the wonderful people of Ames and Iowa State University have provided our athletes with the keys to their beautiful city and campus. The excitement that they have as a community is exceeded only by the joy that our friends with ‘different abilities’ experience.”
Also featured at the games is an Olympic Village, which is an area for athletes to relax between competitions and interact with sponsors and partners through games and activities. The Olympic Village will be located on the south side of the Lied Recreation Athletic Center parking lot.
Healthy Athletes screenings will be provided to athletes by healthcare professionals for eyesight, dental, hearing, overall health and fitness and more. At more than 1.4 million free health examinations in more than 170 countries, the Special Olympics Healthy Athletes program has become the largest global public health organization dedicated to serving people with intellectual disabilities.
Sponsors for the 2016 Summer Games include Ames Chamber and Economic Development, Ames Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, Barilla, Beisser Lumber, Danfoss, Delta Dental, Grinnell Mutual, Hy-Vee, Iowa Cheerleading Coaches’ Association, Iowa State University, Kingland Systems, Knights of Columbus, Mary Greeley Medical Center, McFarland Clinic, Rotary Club of Ames, Sammons Financial Group, Todd & Sargent, U.S. Bank, Wells Fargo and Windsor Windows and Doors.
The Summer Games are open to the public and admission is free. The public is encouraged to attend and cheer on the athletes as they compete. For more information on Special Olympics Iowa, visit our website at www.soiowa.org or call 515-986-5520.
#####
Special Olympics Iowa (SOIA), a statewide nonprofit organization, provides high-quality training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities in all 99 counties of Iowa. SOIA offers 23 Olympic-style sports to more than 12,000 athletes and Unified Sports partners year-round.
Since 1968, Special Olympics has provided an inclusive culture that stresses athletic excellence, rewards determination, emphasizes health and celebrates personal achievement. Through Special Olympics sports training and competition, children and adults with intellectual disabilities reach their full potential and experience inclusion in their communities every day.
