Special Olympics Oregon 2017 Summer State Games Draw Over 2,000 Athletes

Corvallis, OR. The Special Olympics Flame of Hope traveled 800 miles across Oregon this year, carried by athletes alongside law enforcement officers who helped light the cauldron at the Summer Games.

The Summer State Games are the largest annual event for Special Olympics Oregon. In addition to 2,000 athletes, the event features 600 coaches and 1,300 volunteers working hard over the course of week. This year many of the events are on the Corvallis campus of Oregon State University. Organizers hope the location will create a unique village-like experience for athletes, from the 30 local programs around the state, who are participating.

The Special Olympics Summer Games run from July 7th – 9th. Here are some snapshots from the first few days in Corvallis:

To get a feel for what the Summer Games are like, here’s a video:

About Special Olympics:

The mission of Special Olympics Oregon is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, 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.

For more information about contributing, here’s a link: https://www.soor.org/Sub-Page.aspx?Name=Donate-Now&PID=70