Founded in 1968, and celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year, the Special Olympics movement has grown to more than 6 million athletes and Unified Sports partners in over 190 countries. Four potential candidates to replace Whalen as Gophers coach, Here are the 15 best chocolate chip cookies in the Twin Cities, Medcalf: Javier Zamora's 'Solito' is spring reading selection for anti-racism book club. Located within the boundaries of Wasatch Mountain, The Huntsman Center at the University of Utah camp, More than 40,000 people attended the Colorado high, The @usafencing Junior Olympics are being staged a, @usaartisticswimming @usawrestling @chsaa #wrestli, Former NFL All-Pro Jared Allen just missed out on. Get inspired with stories of joy, perseverance, and achievement. Special Olympics supports over 4 million athletes, coaches, and volunteers with 32 Olympic-type sports. As we move forward, we need to know youre with us. Special Olympics serves as the worlds largest sports organization empowering people with intellectual disabilities, and the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games will mark the largest sporting event in the US that year. Fall Classic. The state officially won the bid to host the event, which is expected to bring as many as 4,000 athletes, 10,000 volunteers, 1,500 coaches and 75,000 fans from all 50 states, Canada and the Caribbean to the Twin Cities. Our university shares the same goals of the Games in transforming lives through inclusion and celebrating each persons greatest ability, Gabel said in a news release. Inclusion Revolution Radio episodes drop every other Friday at 10am ET. For World Games, Minnesota is part of the larger USA delegation and only selects athletes to represent the state. The USA Games featured 5,500 athletes and coaches from all 50 states and The Caribbean. 2026 USA Games Logo Ann Forstie 2022-05-31T11:54:23-05:00. Eight-year Broadcast Agreement and Extension as Global Presenting Sponsor of Special Olympics Unified Sports, Russell Wolff, Executive Vice President and General Manager, ESPN+. Special Olympics USA Games - Instagram Local people who are spending money for tickets, food and beverages would spend it elsewhere in Minnesota if the Special Olympics were not in town, he said. ESPNs support of Special Olympics began over 30 years ago, and groundbreaking multimedia coverage of Special Olympics events began in 2015. Since then, ESPN has added year-round news and feature coverage of Special Olympics, its athletes, community, and culture. Special Olympics Pennsylvania (SOPA) offers more than 300 competitions for 16,000 athletes in 54 local programs. Christine Sovereign, senior managing director and Minneapolis office managing director of Accenture, will be the CEO of the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, serving as a loaned executive from the company. Unleashing leadership potential in people of all abilities. The Games will be comprised of 15 Olympic-type team and individual sports, as well as five demonstration sports. The announcement was made Friday morning by Gov. The Special Olympics began in 1968 to give people with intellectual disabilities an opportunity to develop athletic skills. Learn more about hosing an international Special Olympics event. Sargent Shriver International Global Messengers, Find job opportunities with Special Olympics, For Christopher Dyke and His Unified Flag Football Team, the USA Games Were an Experience of a Lifetime, Longtime Special Olympics Competitor Collins Clingman Ready for His USA Games Moment, Minnesota Wins Bid to Host the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, Special Olympics Colorado Athlete Tania Wright Selected for USA Games in First Year Competing, Special Olympics Alaska Athlete Uses Platform to Promote Healthy Lifestyle, 2022 Special Olympics USA Games Wins the Amazon Web Services Grant, Forbes Features Special Olympics Athlete and Marketing Development Coordinator, Novie Craven, Michael Detouche Gains Confidence Fishing and Makes Valuable Impact Within Special Olympics. World photo/Loren Benoit. Exploria Stadium to Host 2022 Special Olympics USA Games Opening 4,484 were here. At a Glance About the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games Winter Games. Christine Sovereign, senior managing director and Minneapolis office managing director of Accenture, will be the chief executive officer of the 2026 Games, serving as a loaned executive from the company. Continue to build Unified Sports capacity through grants in the U.S. and multiple countries around the world, as well as support for conducting inclusive Unified Sports within refugee camps; Focus on improving the quality and raising awareness of Unified Sports initiatives; Recruit and train Unified Sports leaders at all levels of the movement, providing them with tools and training to develop and sustain Unified Sports in their communities; Work together to engage sports leagues and organizations to support the expansion of Unified Sports; Support global marketing campaign plans and activations; Increase Disney & ESPN employee engagement with local Special Olympics programs in key markets. The Special Olympics USA Games are coming to Minnesota. Governor Peggy Flannagan, Special Olympics Minnesota Unified Partner Darrel Knauss, Thousands of athletes, families and fans will attend the games in June 2026. The new eight-year programming agreement will see ESPN continue as the Global Broadcast Partner of signature Special Olympics events through 2027, including the World Games, World Winter Games and USA Games. I am proud and excited that Minnesota will host the 2026 USA Special Olympics Games, said Governor Tim Walz. Think again. University of Minnesota to Host Special Olympics USA Games in 2026 Thousands of Athletes, Coaches and Fans Came Together to Competition is offered in 21 Olympic-type sports and three emerging sports for athletes eight years or older. Team Special Olympics North Carolina consisted of 75 North Carolina athletes and Unified partners (individuals without intellectual disabilities who train and compete alongside . MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Minnesota will host the Special Olympics USA Games in June 2026. 2026specialolympicsusagames.org. The 2026 Winter Olympics, officially the XXV Olympic Winter Games ( Italian: XXV Giochi olimpici invernali) and also known as Milano Cortina 2026 ( Ladin: Milano-Anpezo 2026 or Milano-Ampz 2026 ), is an upcoming international multi-sport event scheduled to take place from 6 to 22 February 2026. Tim Walz and other state leaders announced that Minnesota will host. The most recent Special Olympics USA Games were held June 5-12, 2022 in Orlando, Florida and the next games will be held in Minnesota in 2026.. World Games. UnitedHealth Group is the presenting sponsor of the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games. Joining Hjerpe on the Executive Board will be Dave Dorn, CEO of Special Olympics Minnesota and Wendy Williams Blackshaw, CEO of Minnesota Sports and Events. Historically, the Games have generated over $70 million dollars of economic impact for their host city. 31 July 6 August 2022 in Detroit, MI USA. Get in touch with us to volunteer, become an athlete, join a Unified Sports team, work as a coach and learn about upcoming events. Get more information about Special . [2], The 2014 Special Olympics USA Games were held from June 1421 in New Jersey. . USA Games. June 4-12 2022 Special Olympics USA Games Orlando 2022 THE 2022 SPECIAL OLYMPICS USA GAMES IS COMING TO FLORIDA FOR THE FIRST TIME! Join. Walz signs bill restoring voting rights for 55K felons, Convicted Salvation Army arsonist charged with trashing Caribou in Brooklyn Park, Minneapolis student pointed gun at another student, dean stepped between them: Charges, Man indicted in 2021 murder of St. Playing a variety of positions, the 21-year-old says he enjoys wide receiver the most, but he also shines on the defensive side of the ball. Sovereign is a former Special Olympics Minnesota board member and an active volunteer for the organization. Walz announces Minnesota will host 2026 Special Olympics USA Games - YouTube During a press conference on Friday, Gov. Special Olympics USA In the past year alone, ESPN presented 40 short films showcasing our athletes, coaches, parents, and other game changers. Donate Now Call Us: 502-695-8222 E-Mail: soky@soky.org About General Information Mission Staff/Contact SOKY SOKY Calendar Work at SOKY Current Job Postings SOKY Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Policy Minnesota Wins Bid to Host the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games Thousands of athletes, families and fans will attend the games in June 2026 Athletes Special Olympics Colorado Athlete Tania Wright Selected for USA Games in First Year Competing Jersey Mike's, the presenting sponsor of the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games, said it raised more than $20 million for the event during its annual Month of Giving in March. WE ARE SPECIAL OLYMPICS USA. Fax: 612.333.8782. LA 2028 | Olympic Games. Competitions will be held at the University of Minnesota and additional Twin Cities venues. Tania Wright was looking for activities to do with her best friend, Kimberly Henry, when she stumbled upon Special Olympics. Minnesota will host 2026 Special Olympics USA Games Reels . Email: [email protected] . Its corporate citizenship programs use the power of sport to positively address societys most pressing needs through strategic community investments, cause marketing programs, collaboration with sports organizations and employee volunteerism, while also utilizing its diverse media assets. EU Co-funded Inclusive Healthy Lifestyle Groups in Schools project kicks off with first transnational Consortium meeting. The 2026 Special Olympics USA Games will bring together 4,000 athletes, 1,500 coaches, 10,000 volunteers and 75,000 fans from all 50 states. Historically, the Games have generated over $70 million dollars of economic impact for their host city. Special Olympics USA games coming to Twin Cities in 2026 - Star Tribune ESPN and Special Olympics have extended and expanded their game-changing relationship, with an eight-year extension of global programming and ESPNs Global Presenting Sponsorship of Special Olympics Unified Sports. The Games Founding Partners included 21st Century Fox,[8] Barnabas Health,[9] HESS,[10] KPMG,[11] NJSEA,[12] Prudential,[13] PSE&G,[14] ShopRite,[15] Toys"R"Us[16] and WWE. Fall Festival - Special Olympics Pennsylvania In 2013, Special Olympics and ESPN began collaborating to expand Unified Sports, driving growth in participation of athletes, teammates, coaches, Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools programming, and sponsorship support.