DENVER, Colo. -- The University of Northern Colorado-Greeley will be the primary site of the Special Olympics Colorado 2009 Summer Games June 6-7. The two-day event marks the culmination of the spring sports season and brings together nearly 2,000 Special Olympics Colorado (SOCO) athletes, coaches, volunteers and family members from across the state. Approximately 800 athletes and Unified Sports Partners will compete in five sports -- aquatics, athletics (track & field), gymnastics, powerlifting and soccer -- at venues on the UNC campus as well as in Loveland (aquatics) and Windsor (gymnastics). Admission is open to the public and FREE of charge.
What: The Special Olympics Colorado 2009 State Summer Games. Competition in five different sports. Additional highlights include Opening Ceremonies, where the Flame of Hope will end a month-long journey of more than 1,800 miles across the state, Closing Ceremonies and Olympic Town.
•Aquatics (events ranging from 10 to 400 meters plus relays)
•Athletics (running, jumping, throwing, wheelchair events, relays)
•Gymnastics (artistic and rhythmic events)
•Powerlifting (bench, dead and squat lifts)
•Soccer (team competition and individual skills competition)
Who: Nearly 800 Special Olympics athletes and Unified Sports® partners plus more than 1,000 coaches, volunteers and family members from across Colorado.
When / Where: Saturday-Sunday, June 6-7 at UNC-Greeley, Mountain View Aquatics Center in Loveland and Windsor Gymnastics Academy in Windsor (complete schedule, map and directions attached).
Competition: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Saturday / 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. Sunday
•Aquatics at Mountain View Aquatics Center, 3500 Mountain Lion Dr., Loveland, CO 80537
•Athletics at Nottingham Field, UNC
•Gymnastics at Windsor Gymnastics Academy, 687 Academy Ct., Windsor, CO 80550
•Powerlifting at Butler-Hancock Hall, UNC
•Soccer at Doubenmier Field, UNC
Opening Ceremonies: 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Saturday
•Olympic Town at Candelaria Lawn, UNC
Closing Ceremonies: 1 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Sunday
•Nottingham Field, UNC
Why: Each year hundreds of Special Olympics Colorado athletes from across the state come together to showcase their athletic skills and celebrate the spirit of Special Olympics. The Summer Games allow Special Olympics Colorado to bring public attention to the talents and capabilities of people with intellectual disabilities, helping to change attitudes and break down barriers that have excluded them from the mainstream of the community. Their stories are inspirational, and the self-confidence and self-esteem they gain from training and competing in Special Olympics are priceless.
Photo and Interview Opportunities: This event offers a wide variety of opportunities to the media, including spectacular pageantry and visuals at the Opening Ceremonies. Special Olympics Colorado athletes, volunteers and coaches, along with various celebrity volunteers, will be available for interviews and photographs.
For more information, visit
www.specialolympicsco.org