Sat, Aug 26th, 2023 - 7:35pm
June 06, 2019 - 8:39am | By News Staff
Media Release:
The city of Fargo will serve as host of the three-day tournament for Special Olympics North Dakota (SOND) State Summer Games held on June 6-8. Competitions include more than 670 athletes across North Dakota from children to adults with intellectual disabilities. All competition events are free and open to the public.
Participants will compete in the state competitions for Athletics (Track & Field), Bocce, Flag Football, Powerlifting, Swimming and Volleyball. Additional Special Events for participants include an Opening Ceremony & Parade of Athletes, Award Ceremonies, Healthy Athlete screenings, Olympic Town activities, and athlete Victory Dance. The tournament will be held at several locations throughout Fargo including the Fargo Civic Center, Bennett Elementary School, Fargo Davies High School, Fargo South High School, and Shanley High School.
Athletes come from 13 communities across the state including: Belcourt, Bismarck, Bottineau, Dickinson, Fargo, Grafton, Grand Forks, Jamestown, Mandan, Minot, Standing Rock, Valley City and Wahpeton. More than 670 athletes, family, friends and volunteers are expected to be in Fargo to help with the event.
The schedule for the 2019 Summer Games follows:
Thursday, June 6 10:00 a.m. Unified Flag Football Exhibition: Fargo South
6:45 p.m. Law Enforcement Torch Run & Parade of Athletes:
Broadway
7:00 p.m. Opening Ceremony: Fargo Civic Center
Friday, June 7 9:30 a.m. Bocce Competition: Davies Football Field
10:00 a.m. Unified Volleyball Competition: Davies, Shanley & Bennett
10:30 a.m. Powerlifting Competition: Davies Theatre
1:00 p.m. Swimming Competition: Davies Pool
Saturday, June 8 9:00 a.m. Track & Field Competition: Fargo South Track
WEBSITE: www.SpecialOlympicsND.org
Kathleen Meagher, President/CEO of SOND states, “Our athletes have spent the past couple months practicing, training, honing their skills, and competing at the local and regional level, just to reach this opportunity of competing at State Summer Games,” said Meagher. “We are thankful that the City of Fargo welcomes our athletes, families and volunteers with open arms and are such wonderful hosts.”
Fans in the stands offers businesses, organizations, clubs, groups, families and individuals the opportunity to cheer on the athletes as they compete for the Gold! Stop on out during any of the events and cheer loud and proud for the athletes and help celebrate all of their hard work as they reach the end of their sport season!
Volunteers are still needed to help with several evens. To register as a volunteer, visit https://specialolympicsnd.org/summergames/summer-games.html.
Premier sponsors include Knights of Columbus, Sanford Health and SpartanNash.
About Special Olympics North Dakota
Special Olympics North Dakota is part of a worldwide movement that unleashes the human spirit through the transformative power and joy of sports everyday around the world. Through work in sports, health education and community building, SpecialOlympics is addressing inactivity, injustice, intolerance and social isolation. By encouraging and empowering people with intellectual disabilities, a more welcoming and inclusive society is developed. Every year more than 1,600 Special Olympicsathletes in North Dakota have an opportunity to take part in any of the 15 sports offered. With the support of more than 300 coaches, 5,000 statewide volunteers deliver more than 70 statewide competitions throughout the year. Learn more about SOND at www.specialolympicsnorthdakota.org and follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/SpecialOlympicsND and twitter @SONorthDakota
