Special Olympics Pennsylvania Celebrates 54th Annual Summer Games at Penn State

Special Olympics Pennsylvania (SOPA ) will host its 54th annual Summer Games Thursday through Saturday at Penn State’s University Park campus, bringing together more than 1,650 athletes and 600 coaches from across the commonwealth to compete in eight sports.

Opening ceremonies will begin at 7:15 p.m. Thursday in Pegula Ice Arena, a change from the originally planned Medlar Field, according to SOPA. The ceremonies will feature the lighting of the torch and a celebration with State College Spikes, as athletes and attendees take part in dance contests, races, scoreboard games and more.

In addition to symbolizing the start of the Summer Games, the opening ceremonies also will serve as a send-off for two athletes — Loretta Claiborne of York County and Izaak Hobday of Bradford and Sullivan counties, who will represent Pennsylvania and the United States at the Special Olympics Berlin World Games June 17 to 25.

Over the three days of the SOPA Summer Games, athletes will be competing throughout campus in aquatics, athletics, basketball, equestrian, golf, gymnastics, softball and tennis. They also will be offered free health screenings and educational events at the Pollock Commons quad through the Healthy Athletes programs.

See the full Summer Games schedule here.

The first SOPA Summer Games consisted of a track and field meet at West Chester University with 135 athletes. This will be the 34th year the games have been held at Penn State, and the event has grown exponentially.

SOPA’s largest statewide competition, the Summer Games are supported by more than 1,000 volunteers.