2024 Special Olympics Ohio State Indoor Winter Games is Back at Bowling Green State University
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Athletes across Ohio are preparing for Special Olympics Ohio’s 2024 State Indoor Winter Games. As the organization’s second largest state-level annual tournament, Winter Games will be held on February 23-25, 2024 at Bowling Green State University. The event will include basketball, basketball skills, competitive cheerleading, and swimming tournaments for athletes as well as Unified Sports® and Healthy Athletes® programs.
Over 1,600 athletes, Unified partners and coaches will participate in Traditional and Unified Sports competitions at the Indoor Winter Games. Unified Sports joins people with and without intellectual disabilities (ID) on the same team and is inspired by a simple idea: training and playing together is a quick path to friendship and understanding. These experiences are not only challenging and exciting, but also improve the attitudes and behaviors among all young people, both with and without ID.
“Special Olympics Ohio is thrilled to be back at Bowling Green State University for our 2024 Indoor Winter Games. We are so appreciative of the support from the university, as well as the from the Bowling Green community. This event is the highlight of the year for many of our athletes as they show off their hard work and training preparing for this state-level competition. We invite everyone to come witness the spirit, passion, and dedication of our athletes. You will be inspired.” says Jessica Stewart, Special Olympics Ohio’s President and CEO.
In addition to sports competitions, athletes will have access to free health screenings and education through the Healthy Athletes program. Healthy Athletes is not only a program for athletes, but it is also a program for healthcare students and professionals to increase their knowledge of best practices in caring for and communicating with people with ID.
Media Meet and Greet
Members of the press are invited to a meet and greet to interview Special Olympics Ohio athletes and leaders on Saturday, February 24, 2024 at 11am-1pm at Perry Field House, 801 N. Mercer Rd., Bowling Green, OH 43402.
About Special Olympics Ohio
Special Olympics Ohio is part of the global inclusion movement using sport, health, education, and leadership programs to empower people with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics Ohio provides year-round sports training and competition in 19 different sports for 20,000 children and adults, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community.
Photos from the 2023 State Indoor Winter Games can be viewed here.