Special Olympics Iowa is excited to announce the Dubuque Challenge Day will return this year to Loras College in Dubuque. The Challenge Day will take place at the college’s Activity and Wellness Center on Friday, October 20, 2017. The day will kick-off with an opening ceremony at 9:30 a.m., with sports activities starting at 10:00 a.m. 

Challenge Days are a one-day event designed specifically for the severe and profound population of Iowa as well as our aging population. Because of the need to offer more activities for these individuals, it has been a goal of Special Olympics Iowa to give these athletes opportunities to compete in activities that mirror the 23 Olympic-style sports SOIA offers. 

“We are excited to have the Dubuque Challenge Day return to our lineup of activities at Special Olympics Iowa,” says Director of Athlete Initiatives, Wendy Olinger. “I am excited to reform the relationship between Loras College and Hills and Dales group home.”

The Dubuque Challenge Day will also mark SOIA’s first Challenge Day with redesigned programs for the athletes. These new activities will help better represent ten of the sports that are offered at Special Olympics Iowa. New stations will include golf, shot put, race walk and wall pass. These will be combined with the original sports of ball darts, batting, ramp bowling, team basketball, team volleyball and basketball shoot. Student athletes from Loras College, as well as community members, will be helping run the events throughout the morning.