NJ Special Olympics Summer Games Return After 2-Year COVID Hiatus

NEW JERSEY — Back in the 1960s, special teachers in Bayonne and Trenton realized that students with intellectual and physical disabilities were being underserved. They individually took it upon themselves to run sports matches for them.

In 1969, the forerunner of the New Jersey Special Olympics emerged, "when six participants from the Bayonne Recreation Department and 12 participants from the E.R. Johnstone Training Center in Bordentown, represented NJ at the Eastern Regional Special Olympics."

Today, the New Jersey Special Olympics is one of the most well regarded in the country, running programs including a summer camp, Camp Shriver, which kicks off again this summer.

But during the COVID pandemic, the traditional Summer Games — in which athletes with intellectual or physical disabilities compete for gold medals — had to be put on hold.

This month, the event returned in force. Opening ceremonies on Friday, June 10 at the College of New Jersey in Ewing drew around 1,500 athletes with disabilities, said a report on News 12 NJ.

And despite rain over the weekend, the Summer Games were able to feature seven sports in events around the state, the organization said. Athletes competed in gymnastics, power lifting, bocce, softball, swimming, tennis, and track & field.

For ages 2–7, there were Young Athletes events, with a guided play program to "show the benefits of participation."

Events were held around the state in all seven sports. The organization has not yet posted its photos and video of the events, but says they will be posted here at the 2022 Summer Games website.

Kimberly Ackerson, an intellectual disabilities teacher at Passaic High School, was quoted as saying, “It's amazing to watch as they compete in these games ... the pride and the camaraderie
they have is like nothing else."

The games wrapped up with a closing event.

The New Jersey Special Olympics runs programs in each county, which you can find with this link.

To get involved, donate, or find out more about the New Jersey Special Olympics, click here.