FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Since 2003, Special Olympics Ohio has held their State Summer Games, especially their Opening Ceremonies, at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium on the campus of the Ohio State University. This year, with Jesse Owens under construction, the kick-off to the organization’s largest state-level annual sporting event is moving to the state’s largest arena, Ohio Stadium. The Opening Ceremonies, which will be held on Friday, June 28th, at 7pm, will include the Parade of Athletes, guest speakers, and the Final Leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run, which will bring in the Flame of Hope to ignite the cauldron and officially start the Games. Also, because of the construction, all track and field events are being moved to Upper Arlington High School, 1625 Zollinger Rd, Upper Arlington, OH 43221, for the weekend.
Over 3,300 athletes, Unified partners and coaches will participate in Traditional and Unified Sports competitions at the State Summer Games presented by The OSU Wexner Medical Center. The Games, held June 28-30, include athletics (track & field), bocce, bowling (off-site), gymnastics, powerlifting, soccer, tennis, and volleyball for athletes, as well as Unified Sports® and Healthy Athletes® programs.
“We are so excited to have Opening Ceremonies for our State Summer Games inside Ohio Stadium. I can’t wait to see our athlete’s faces as they parade into the ‘Shoe.’ We are so appreciative of the support from the university, The OSU Wexner Medical Center, as well as our other partners: Marathon, Huntington Bank, Sheetz, Big Lots Foundation, Coca-Cola Consolidated, Rogue Fitness, American Legion- Department of Ohio, Morgan Stanley, The Knights of Columbus, Greenbaum Stiers Strategic Marketing Group, Ohio State Moose Association, and AMVETS. This event is the highlight of the year for many of our athletes as they show off their hard work and training to prepare for this state-level competition. We invite the entire community to come out and witness the spirit, passion, and dedication of our athletes. Prepare to 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.
Photos from the 2023 Summer Games can be viewed here.
About Special Olympics Ohio
Special Olympics Ohio is part of the global inclusion movement using sports, 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.
List of local Programs participating in the 2024 State Summer Games:
Allen County
All-Star Training Club
Ashland County
Ashtabula County
Auglaize County
Belmont County
Butler County
Carroll County
Champaign County
Clark County
Clermont County
Columbus Schools
Coshocton County
Crawford County
Cuyahoga County
Darke County
Defiance County
Delaware County
Dublin City Schools
Elyria City Schools
Erie County
Fairfield County
Fayette County
Franklin County
Fulton County
Gahanna
Greene County
Grove City
Groveport
Hamilton County
Hancock County
Henry County
Hilliard
Holmes County
Hudson
Huron County
Kent
Knox County
Lake County
Logan County
Lucas County
Madison County
Mahoning Public Schools
Marion County
Mayfield
MBB Middleburg Berea Brook Park
Medina County
Meigs County
Mercer County
Miami County
Montgomery County
Morrow County
Murray Ridge
Muskingum County
New Albany
Newark
Olentangy Schools
Ottawa County
Pickaway County
Pickerington City Schools
Portage County
Putnam County
Putnam Public Schools
Reynoldsburg
Richland County
Ross County
Sandusky County
Seneca County
Stark County
Stark Public Schools
Strongsville
Summit County
Tuscarawas County
Union County
Upper Arlington
Van Wert County
Warren County
Washington County
Wayne County
West Licking
Westerville
Williams County
Wood County
Worthington
Wyandot County
Love our special needs
I volunteered for the 2024 Special Olympics that were held at Upper Arlington High School. My experience was nothing short of amazing and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I am interested in continuing my volunteer efforts with Special Olympics and would like to also expand those efforts to the company I work for Bread Financial. I am the leader of a Business Resource Group Physical Abilities and would love to partner with you to create awareness and opportunities for people with special needs.
My daughter wants to compete next yr. How can she attend?