Neighbor News
Special Olympics to Host Annual Summer Games, June 3-5, 11-12
Event is Presented by Pratt & Whitney
Special Olympics Connecticut will host its 2022 Summer Games presented by Pratt & Whitney at Fairfield University, Friday, June 3rd through Sunday, June 5th and Southern Connecticut State University, Saturday, June 11th and Sunday, June 12th. Summer Games will offer athletes of all abilities from across the state the opportunity to compete in sports with their peers and demonstrate strength, skills and spirit after training with their coaches and teammates for a season.
The Summer Games Opening Ceremony will be broadcast on Special Olympics Connecticut's Facebook page on Friday, June 3rd beginning at 6:30 p.m. Highlights of the Opening Ceremony will include the Final Leg of the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Connecticut, lighting of the cauldron with the Special Olympics "Flame of Hope" and Special Olympics Connecticut President Beau Doherty, who will be retiring this summer after 40 years with the organization, officially kicking off the Games.
Swimming, soccer and tennis competition will be held at Fairfield University, 1073 North Benson Road, Fairfield on Saturday, June 4th. Swimming events will continue on Sunday, June 5th. Cycling events will also be going on at 181 West Johnson Road in Cheshire on Saturday, June 4th. Track & field competition will take place both days the following weekend, Saturday, June 11th and Sunday, June 12th, at Southern Connecticut State University, 501 Crescent Street, New Haven.
For more information about Special Olympics Connecticut and its Summer Games, visit soct.org, email specialolympicsct@soct.org or call 203-230-1201. Also, follow Special Olympics Connecticut on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
In addition to sports competition, Summer Games will offer participants free health screenings and education through Special Olympics Connecticut's Healthy Athletes program. Offerings will include Fit Feet, FUNfitness, Health Promotion, Healthy Hearing, Special Smiles and Massage Therapy at Fairfield University and Strong Minds (focusing on mental and emotional well-being) and Healthy Habits Education at Southern Connecticut State University. Olympic Town will also be set up at both venues to provide athletes with games and activities to enjoy throughout the event.
In addition to Presenting Sponsor Pratt & Whitney, sponsors include ESPN and Fairfield University - Platinum Sponsors, and Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Avelo Airlines, Foxwoods Resort Casino, Henkel, Knights of Columbus, NBC Sports and Tokio Marine HCC - Gold Sponsors.
Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast, Geico Philanthropic Foundation, Linde, NJM Insurance Group, Pepperidge Farm, Southern Connecticut State University, Starwood Property Trust and Yale-New Haven Health are Bronze Sponsors. And, the American Legion, Guida’s Dairy, Jones Lang LaSalle, Synchrony Financial, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) and the Walter Camp Football Foundation are Supporting Sponsors. Media Sponsors include Hearst Connecticut Media Group, iHeart Radio Connecticut, and NBC Connecticut and Telemundo Connecticut.
Healthy Athletes sponsors include Golisano Foundation, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - National Sponsors, Webster Bank, HSA Bank - Presenting Sponsors, Campbell Soup Foundation - a Platinum Sponsor, CVS Health, Delta Dental, Red Sox Foundation, John & Ethel Kashulon Foundation - Gold Sponsors, the Connecticut Community Foundation - a Bronze Sponsor and AXA XL - a Supporting Sponsor.
About Special Olympics Connecticut
Special Olympics Connecticut provides year-round sports training and competitions for more than 10,000 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 people of all abilities, on and off the playing field. (www.soct.org)
Partner Sponsors: Bozzuto's Inc., Enterprise, ESPN, Eversource Energy, The Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation, The Hometown Foundation, Law Enforcement Torch Run, NBC Connecticut and Telemundo Connecticut, Webster Bank, Raytheon Technologies and WWE.Year-Round Suppliers: Adams Hometown Markets/IGA Hometown Supermarkets, Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast, Marcus Communications, N&D Sports, State of Connecticut Judicial Branch Community Service and WORX.
