A look at the Special Olympics, which open Sunday in Seattle
Published 1:30 am Saturday, June 30, 2018
Nearly 4,000 athletes from across the country — including more than 25 from Snohomish County — will be in the Seattle area this week to compete in the Special Olympics USA Games.
This is the fourth edition of the USA Games, which take place every four years and are the premier national competition for athletes with intellectual disabilities. Previous host cities were Ames, Iowa (2006); Lincoln, Nebraska (2010); and Lawrenceville, New Jersey (2014).
The Games begin with Sunday’s Opening Ceremony at Husky Stadium and continue through Friday with competition in 14 sports at venues across the Seattle region.
ESPN will cover the Games and numerous Seattle sports legends are scheduled to make appearances, along with an estimated 15,000 volunteers and thousands more spectators. All sporting events are free and open to the public.
The Games coincide with the 50th anniversary of Special Olympics.
Qualifying: Athletes were selected to participate in the USA Games after qualifying through state competitions. Team Washington is sending 254 athletes and coaches to the Games, the most of any state.
Divisions: Athletes are placed in divisions based on gender, age and ability. The minimum age to compete is 8 years old. There is no age limit.
Traditional and Unified formats: Every sport at the Games features traditional Special Olympics competition consisting entirely of athletes with intellectual disabilities. Nine of the 14 sports also feature Unified competition, which joins athletes with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team.
Opening Ceremony: The Games kick off with the Opening Ceremony at 12:30 p.m. Sunday at Husky Stadium. The event features the Parade of Athletes, the lighting of the Special Olympics Flame of Hope, a choir of more than 2,000 singers and musical performances from Heart vocalist Ann Wilson, Charlie Puth and more. Tickets cost $20 and the event will be televised live on ABC.
TV coverage: ESPN2 will air a daily highlight show Monday through Friday at 3 p.m. (except on Wednesday, when it begins at 2 p.m.). ESPN’s SportsCenter also will include daily coverage during its morning and evening shows. ESPN3 will air live broadcasts of certain swimming events.
Sport-by-sport breakdown: Below is information about all 14 sports at the Games. Also included are Snohomish County athletes who qualified and were selected to compete, according to the Special Olympics Washington website.
ATHLETICS (TRACK AND FIELD)
When: Monday-Friday
Where: Husky Track (U. of Washington)
Local athletes: Colleen Bryant (Edmonds), Christopher Linnell (Lynnwood)
BASKETBALL
When: Monday-Friday
Where: Alaska Airlines Arena (UW), Marv Harshman Court (UW), IMA Courts (UW), Redhawk Center (Seattle U.)
Local athletes: Agwin Atem (Everett), Melanie Hernandez (Everett), Maria Mendoza (Edmonds), Uzo Okoro (Edmonds), Crystal Yetter (Edmonds)
BOCCE
When: Monday-Thursday
Where: Dempsey Indoor Center (UW)
Local athletes: Evelyn Pringle (Everett), Judy Ryba (Everett)
BOWLING
When: Monday-Thursday
Where: Kenmore Lanes (Kenmore)
Local athletes: Stephen Barkholz (Darrington)
FLAG FOOTBALL
When: Monday-Thursday
Where: IMA Fields (UW)
GOLF
When: Monday-Wednesday
Where: Willows Run Golf Course (Redmond)
Local athletes: Kristie Clark (Everett)
GYMNASTICS
When: Tuesday-Thursday
Where: Royal Brougham Pavilion (Seattle Pacific U.)
POWERLIFTING
When: Monday-Tuesday, Thursday-Friday
Where: Meany Hall for the Performing Arts (UW)
SOCCER
When: Monday-Thursday
Where: Championship Field (Seattle U.), SU Park (Seattle U.)
SOFTBALL
When: Monday-Tuesday, Thursday
Where: Celebration Park Sports Complex (Federal Way)
Local athletes: Walter Aurdal (Lake Stevens), Matthew Candit (Snohomish), Xaphya Carden-Madden (Lake Stevens), Casey Condit (Lake Stevens), Tyler Duim (Lake Stevens), Scott Hayford (Lake Stevens), Truman Hobbs (Lake Stevens), Dawson Kellar (Snohomish), Lawrence Kleisath (Lake Stevens), Nikki Osbjornsen (Lake Stevens), Jaimi Robertson (Lake Stevens), Darrell Zimmerman (Everett), Traci Baughman (Lake Stevens)
STAND-UP PADDLE BOARD
When: Monday-Tuesday
Where: Angle Lake Park (SeaTac)
SWIMMING
When: Monday-Friday
Where: King County Aquatic Center (Federal Way)
TENNIS
When: Monday-Friday
Where: Bill Quillian Tennis Stadium (UW)
VOLLEYBALL
When: Monday-Friday
Where: IMA Courts (UW)
Local athletes: Stacey Conser (Lynnwood), Andrea Hall (Marysville), Marcus Hall (Marysville), Jeff Kirby (Everett), Roland Kirby (Marysville)
Visit www.specialolympicsusagames.org for more detailed information.
