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Just ahead of the 2016 Summer Games, The Des Moines Register revealed the All-Iowa Special Olympics Elite Athletes. The athletes chosen represent the spirit of the Special Olympics Iowa movement and have gone above and beyond to show their dedication to sport and sportsmanship. They represent SOIA in competitions, service to their fellow athletes, and leadership within the organization and their community.

The Elite Athletes will be honored at the Register’s All-Iowa Sports Awards Banquet on June 18 in Des Moines. The banquet will feature keynote speaker Peyton Manning. …

Healthy Athletes screenings were provided to athletes by healthcare professionals for eyesight, dental, hearing, overall health and fitness, and more at the 2016 Summer Games at Iowa State University in Ames, May 19-21.

With more than 1.4 million free health examinations in over 170 countries, the Special Olympics Healthy Athletes program has become the largest global public health organization dedicated to serving people with intellectual disabilities. The program is designed to help Special Olympics athletes improve their health and fitness, which can lead to a better sports experience and improved well being.

Check out the video below highlighting the Healthy Athletes program at this year’s Summer Games:

Video by Kumar Wickramasingha

Special Olympics Iowa held the 32nd annual Summer Games at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, May 19-21. The Games consisted of three days of competition in sports like aquatics, athletics, tennis, bocce, developmental, soccer and cycling.

Things started with the Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg bringing the Flame of Hope from downtown Des Moines to Hilton Coliseum for the Opening Ceremonies presented by Hy-Vee on Thursday.  …

On Thursday, May 5 Special Olympics Iowa hosted the annual Drake Unified Sports Day at Drake University. Events were held in the Knapp Center as well as on the practice fields outside.

Special Olympics Unified Sports promotes social inclusion through shared sport training and competition experiences for individuals with and without intellectual disabilities. More than 600 special education and regular education students from schools across Central Iowa paired up for the day for some friendly competition in activities like 3-on-3 basketball, bocce, golf, pass-punt-kick football, relay races, volleyball and more.

There were more than 125 volunteers, including representatives from Clipped Wings, Laborer’s Local #177 Retirees and Wells Fargo. Drake University football players were also on hand to help with events and sign autographs.

Check out photos from the event below!

 

Special Olympics Iowa will host the 22^nd annual Drake Unified Sports Day Thurs., May 5 at Drake University from 9:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Dedicated to promoting social inclusion through shared sports training and competition, Unified Sports joins people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team.

More than 600 special education and regular education students from 18 schools across Central Iowa will pair up for a day of friendly competition. Partners will participate in 3-on-3 basketball, bocce, golf, pass-punt-kick football, relay races, volleyball and more.

More than 125 volunteers, including representatives from Clipped Wings, Laborer’s Local #177 Retirees, Wells Fargo and Drake University football players, will help coordinate the events.

Special Olympics Unified Sports promotes social inclusion through shared sport training and competition experiences for individuals with and without intellectual disabilities. Unified Sports has proven to be highly effective in achieving social inclusion. Athletes feel a sense of belonging; they can meaningfully interact with others, develop mutually rewarding relationships, are recognized as contributors and are received with acceptance and respect.

 

EVENT DETAILS

WHAT: Special Olympics Iowa Unified Sports Day at Drake University
Sponsored by Principal Financial Group, Variety Club – the Children’s Charity and Special Olympics Project UNIFY
WHO: Special Olympics Iowa athletes and Unified Sports partners
WHEN: May 5 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.
WHERE: Drake University Knapp Center, Bell Center and practice fields

Special Olympics Iowa (SOIA) hosted two Young Athlete Play Activity Day sessions sponsored by Sammons Financial Group on April 21. The event was held at Ankeny Centennial High School with one session running in the morning and one in the afternoon.

The Youth Athlete Play Activity Day is a program designed to provide play activities and socialization opportunities for children with intellectual disabilities between the ages of two and seven. The program is for children that are too young to participate in traditional SOIA competitions as the minimum entry age for traditional competition is eight years old. Area schools participated in the Ankeny Play Day, as well as a few schools that were from outside the area, making it the biggest Play Day event in its history. …

The USTA is sponsoring a tennis competition on August 27, 2016 at the North Scott High School tennis courts in Eldridge for Special Olympics athletes, ages 8 and up. There will be singles matches played with a ranking of 2.0 and higher. …

“March to Summer Games” is underway and will be continuing through May 15. Eleven delegations have joined the program with a total of 110 Special Olympics athletes and Unified Partners participating.  Four Special Olympics athletes have walked over 100 miles in the past 6 weeks. “March to Summer Games“ is a Unified Walking Club, which has the goal of developing healthy daily exercise habits. Special Olympics athletes and Unified Partners work together to compete for awards and to gain new friendships. …

On March 1st, Special Olympic Athletes and staff spent the day at the Iowa State Capitol spreading the word to end the “R” word. Spread the Word to End the Word is a national campaign to help make a stand against a word that has gained popularity in culture, but is offensive to many.

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More than 1,000 Special Olympics Iowa athletes and Unified Sports partners from across Iowa are set to compete in the annual Mid-Winter Tournament to be held March 11-12 in Iowa City. The event is made possible with the help of more than 350 volunteers from across the state.

Powerlifting, team basketball (3-on-3 and 5-on-5) and gymnastics competitions will be held at the University of Iowa Field House, while Iowa City West High School will host cheerleading, dance and basketball skills. Competition begins at 9 a.m. March 12. A Healthy Athletes session will be held from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. at Iowa City West High School.

The Opening Ceremony will take place March 11 at 6 p.m. along with a banquet and dance at the Coralville Marriott Exhibit Hall.

Tentative Schedule of Events

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