Special Olympics Connecticut Will Host Annual Summer Games Event, June 9-11

Special Olympics Connecticut will hold its annual Summer Games, presented by United Technologies – a sponsor for 40 years, Friday, June 9th through Sunday, June 11th. The event will take place at Southern Connecticut State University, 501 Crescent Street, New Haven, and the Hamden Hall Country Day School Skiff Street Athletic Complex, 225 Skiff Street, Hamden. Over 2,400 athletes and Unified Sports® teammates are expected to compete in cycling, soccer, swimming, tennis and track & field events. Opening Ceremonies will take place on Friday, June 9th at 7:15 p.m. at the Jess Dow Field on the Southern Connecticut State University campus and will include a parade of athletes, the final leg of the Annual Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Connecticut, music and special guests. Summer Games competition and award presentations will take place Friday afternoon at Southern Connecticut State University and throughout the day Saturday and Sunday at Southern Connecticut State University and the Hamden Hall Country Day School Skiff Street Athletic Complex. All are invited and enthusiastically encouraged to come out and enjoy Opening Ceremonies and watch the sports competition taking place throughout the weekend. There is no cost to attend. For more information, visit www.soct.org, email specialolympicsct@soct.org, or call 203-230-1201. And, follow Special Olympics Connecticut on facebook.com/SpecialOlympicsCT, twitter.com/SOCTconnecticut and Instagram (specialolympicsct) #SOCTGames.

During the weekend, a Healthy Athletes Village will be set up on the Southern Connecticut State University campus to offer athletes participating in Summer Games free health screenings that check eyes, ears, teeth, and feet through the Special Olympics’ Healthy Athletes year-round program. Volunteer medical practitioners will also provide information and items - such as free prescription eyeglasses, toothbrushes and mouth guards - to enhance athletes’ fitness, safety, sports performance and overall well-being. Olympic Town - an area where all can enjoy educational, cultural, interactive and creative activities, an elaborate line-up of entertainment and an Avenue of Resources will also be featured during Summer Games weekend.

Summer Games is an event for athletes from around the state who’ve trained for a minimum of eight weeks in their sport and have participated in the Special Olympics’ time trials and qualifying events held in May. Along with the athletes competing, over 500 coaches and 2,000 volunteers are expected to participate and support the event.

In addition to Presenting Sponsor United Technologies, sponsors include Sikorsky – A Lockheed Martin Company which is a Platinum Sponsor of this year’s Summer Games.

Gold Sponsors include Alexion, AMR, Anthem BlueCross BlueShield, ESPN, Foxwoods Resort Casino, Hamden Hall Country Day School, Knights of Columbus, Medtronic, Southern Connecticut State University and Tokiomarine/HCC Global.

First Transit, Frontier Communications, Geico, Henkel, Pepperidge Farm, TD Bank, Thule and Yale New Haven Health are all Bronze Sponsors.

Advantage, The American Legion and the Walter Camp Football Foundation are Supporting Sponsors and Eagle Leasing is a Contributing Sponsor.

NBC Connecticut, the New Haven Register and iHeart Radio Connecticut are Summer Games Media Sponsors.

About Special Olympics Connecticut

Special Olympics Connecticut provides year-round sports training and competitions for over 13,000 athletes of all ages with intellectual disabilities and Unified Sports® partners - their teammates without disabilities.

Through the joy of sport, the Special Olympics movement transforms lives and communities throughout the state and in 170 countries around the world by promoting good health and fitness and inspiring inclusion and respect for all people, on and off the playing field. (www.soct.org)

Partner Sponsors: Adams Hometown Markets/IGA Hometown Supermarkets, Dream Ride, ESPN, Eversource Energy, The Golisano Foundation, Law Enforcement Torch Run, NBC Connecticut, TD Bank, United Technologies and WWE.

Year-Round Suppliers: Adams Hometown Markets/IGA Hometown Supermarkets, Campus Customs, The Coca-Cola Company, Connecticut Portable Storage/PODS, Crystal Rock Water and Coffee Company, Dunkin’ Donuts, Graebel Moving Services, LLC, Guida’s Milk and Ice Cream, Lamar Outdoor Advertising, Marcus Communications, State of Connecticut Judicial Branch Community Service and WORX.