MORE THAN 2,000 ATHLETES SET TO COMPETE AT SPECIAL OLYMPICS PENNSYLVANIA’S SUMMER GAMES AT PENN STATE UNIVERSITY, JUNE 5 – 7
Hundreds of Volunteers Needed for 3-Day Statewide Competition
(NORRISTOWN, PA, May 7, 2025) – Special Olympics Pennsylvania (SOPA) will hold its 55th Annual Summer Games, presented by Sheetz, at Penn State University in State College, PA, from Thursday, June 5 through Saturday, June 7, 2025. Summer Games is the largest statewide competition bringing more than 2,000 athletes and 800 coaches from across Pennsylvania to compete in six sports (aquatics, athletics, basketball, equestrian, gymnastics, and tennis). Weeks of hard work and dedication in training will be rewarded as athletes are cheered on and supported during this three-day competition by hundreds of enthusiastic volunteers.
To host a successful Summer Games, SOPA is inviting local community members to come out and volunteer. Volunteers are needed to serve in sports-specific roles including scorekeepers, runners, timers, lane monitors, announcers, judges, and more. Also, logistics roles, including athlete arrival, luggage assistance, and equipment tear down. Most volunteer shifts are three to four hours long, and you can choose to volunteer for one or multiple days. Please visit www.SpecialOlympicsPA.org/Become-A-Volunteer and register to volunteer today!
The 2025 Summer Games will also serve as preparation and vital training for athletes competing in the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 91 athletes and Unified Partners and 25 coaches will represent Team PA next June. SOPA is eager to support Team PA athletes and representatives and would love to promote these achievements to the local community.
Summer Games will kick off with preliminary competitions on Thursday, June 5, followed by the traditional fanfare of Opening Ceremony at Medlar Field, beginning at 7:15 p.m. This year’s Opening Ceremony will be held at Medlar Field in partnership with the State College Spikes and will feature an exciting new addition! As athletes arrive at Medlar Stadium, they’ll be treated to ice cream and a thrilling action sports demo by professional athletes. Watch as bikes, scooters, and skates perform jaw-dropping flips, jumps, and twists over ramps! Athletes can enjoy their ice cream while catching all the live action.
The Opening Ceremonies will end with the lighting of the Olympic Cauldron by the Flame of Hope carried by participants of the 14th annual “Be a Fan” Torch Run. The Torch Run is a 3-day, 150-mile run from Pittsburgh to State College. More than 500 members of law enforcement representing over 50 teams from across the state will carry the torch from home plate at PNC Park in Pittsburgh to Medlar Field in State College.
In addition, to being SOPA’s largest competition, Summer Games also offers athletes access to life changing health screening. SOPA’s Healthy Athletes program will be held at the IM Fields next to Olympic Village and give the athletes a chance to get general wellness, physical therapy, vision, audiology, dental, and podiatry health screenings. This year, Allegheny Health Network's Chill Room will be available, where athletes and coaches will have the opportunity to practice mindfulness and learn coping skills. The Chill Room is available to help participants prepare for their next event or relax in a quiet space. Both Healthy Athletes and the Chill Room will be available Thursday, June 5 from 1 to 5 p.m. and Friday, June 6 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Special Olympics Pennsylvania’s Healthy Athletes program provides health services and education to Special Olympics athletes free of charge and is changing the way health systems interact with people with intellectual disabilities. The program has now made Special Olympics the largest public health organization for people with intellectual disabilities in the world.
On Friday, June 6, competition will begin as early as 8 a.m. at six venues in individual skills, individual events, relay and team events. The day will conclude with Sports Fest and a Victory Dance at the IM Fields from 7 to 9 p.m., which will feature a DJ, dancing, field games and fun outdoor activities. Final competitions and awards are scheduled at each venue between 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 7.
The complete Summer Games tentative event schedule is available at www.SpecialOlympicsPA.org/Summer-Games.
This year marks the 55th year that Penn State University will host Summer Games, and the 31st year that Sheetz, Inc. will serve as a state-wide corporate partner. Sponsors include: The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Knights of Columbus.
2024 Summer Games Photos can be found here: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjBtV7X
About Special Olympics Pennsylvania
Special Olympics Pennsylvania provides year-round training and competition in 21 Olympic-type sports to approximately 15,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities or closely related developmental disabilities. For more information about how you can join “The Inclusion Revolution,” visit www.specialolympicspa.org.