We are gearing up for our biggest event of the year! Summer Games is held annually each May in Ames, Iowa, and will feature nearly 2,500 athletes and Unified partners competing in bocce, cycling, track and field, soccer, swimming, tennis, and developmental events. Join us May 25-27 for the competition, healthy athletes screenings, the Olympic Festival, and more!
Little Feet Meet is returning to Summer Games this year! The Little Feet Meet is an inclusive opportunity for Young Athletes, ages 2 to 7, with and without intellectual disabilities to participate in track and field events at the Summer Games. There will be several stations available for the athletes to participate in. The competition will take place on Thursday, May 25 at 12:30 pm in the Lied Recreation Center on the Iowa State University Campus.
Date: May 25-27
Location: Iowa State University
|
|
2023 Summer Games Updates |
|
We have a few new and exciting changes for Summer Games this year!
-
Cycling will be held at the Cyclone Sports Complex, 1022 Welch Ave, Ames, IA 50011
-
Tennis will be held at the Ames High Baseball Complex (Tennis Courts located here), 2005 24th St, Ames, IA 50010
-
Healthy Athletes®, volunteer and delegation registration, and souvenir sales will all be held inside of the Scheman Building.
-
The Olympic Festival and sports clinics will be held in the Scheman Courtyard, and will run from 2:00pm-6:00pm on Thursday, and 10:00am-4:00 pm on Friday.
|
|
Volunteer at Summer Games!
We are looking for volunteers to help with scorekeeping, selling souvenirs, presenting awards to athletes, cheering them on, and more! We have morning, afternoon, or all-day shifts available. Questions? Reach out to Paula, our Volunteer Coordinator, at pdoan@soiowa.org.
|
|
Track and Field and Swimming Competitions |
|
Thank you to all of the athletes and Unified partners who participated in our track and field and swimming competitions this spring. Area meets were held all across the state, and over 2,400 athletes saw competition. Good job to all who competed, and we look forward to seeing many of you at Summer Games! |
|
Knights of Columbus Showing Their Support for SOIA |
|
|
|
Earlier this month, the Knights of Columbus in Iowa held their annual state convention. The Knights of Columbus were founded in Iowa in 1900 and have been a longtime partner of Special Olympics Iowa. Special Olympics Iowa is a Campaign for People with Intellectual Disabilities (CPID) Drive recipients. They show their dedication to our mission by volunteering at area games throughout the state. We are looking forward to seeing their 4th degree join us for Opening Ceremony in Ames for Summer Games! Thank you to the Knights of Columbus for your ongoing support of our athletes! |
|
Make a splash by taking the Polar Plunge in Council Bluffs! If jumping into cold water isn’t your thing, you can support Special Olympics Iowa by registering to play in the cornhole tournament instead! There will be social and competitive divisions, with prizes awarded to the top teams in each division. Register for one event, or both, the choice is yours! |
|
Date: Saturday, May 6th
Location: 100 Block of W Broadway, Council Bluffs
|
|
Special Olympics Iowa is proud to be participating in Great Give Day, a 24-hour charitable challenge organized by the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque. The online giving holiday will take place on May 17. Mark your calendars, because we will need your help! We will be joining more than 200 local nonprofits to raise money together.
How can you help Special Olympics Iowa during Great Give Day?
• Save the date. May 17, 2023, will be a great day of generosity. Get excited and ready to share your enthusiasm for Special Olympics Iowa throughout the day.
• Schedule a gift. For your convenience, you can schedule gifts beginning May 15. We encourage you to donate early if you cannot participate on May 17.
|
|
Join us for the 8th annual Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) Dunkin’ Cop on a Rooftop fundraiser on Friday, May 19th from
5:00 am- 12:00 pm! Stop by one of Iowa’s 23 participating Dunkin’ locations for your morning coffee and support Special Olympics Iowa athletes and local law enforcement officers.
Anyone who leaves a donation for Special Olympics Iowa will receive a coupon for a free donut. Guests who donate $10 or more will get a coupon for a free hot coffee, and those who donate $20 or more will receive a Special Olympics Iowa tumbler
(subject to availability, while supplies last.)
|
|
|
|
Airplanes, obstacle courses, super heroes, and ice cream? This year’s Plane Pull will have fun for the whole family, don’t miss out!
Grab 7 of your friends, and register for this year’s Plane Pull. Teams of 8 will test their strength to see who can pull an 80,000 pound airplane for the fastest time.
|
|
Date: Saturday, June 17th
Location: Des Moines International Airport, Endeavor Air Hanger
|
|
Registration Forms Available Online
Registration forms for one-day programs and sports competitions are available online! Go to the Participation Forms page on our website to view registration forms for upcoming SOIA events.
|
|
Event Calendar
May
2- Mitchell DMPS Young Athletes Play Day
3- Linn Mar Young Athletes Play Day
5- Central Lee Young Athletes Play Day
7- Luther Unified Sports Day
12- McKee DMPS Young Athletes Play Day
19- Dunkin' Cop on a Rooftop
25-27- Summer Games
June
3- Dallas County All-Wheel Show
17- Plane Pull
26- Swing with the Celebrities Golf Tournament
Upcoming State Competition Dates
Summer Games- May 25-27
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
