The new year holds much excitement for Special Olympics Virginia as we prepare to send 34 athletes and 14 coaches to Ames, Iowa in July for 2006 USA National Games. This event is a first for Special Olympics with 3,500 athletes attending from all of the 50 states to compete in 12 sports. Ames will be transformed into an Olympic Village to host 2,000 coaches and delegates, 12,000 family members and friends, 8,000 volunteers, and 30,000 spectators.

Team Virginia will compete for the gold in track and field, golf, gymnastics, swimming, tennis, powerlifting, bowling, and basketball. Each of these sports was selected at random and all athletes won gold at the 2005 State Games in the event in which they will compete at Nationals.

Opening ceremonies will take place July 2 and events will last through the 7th. The Games and competitions will based around Iowa State University, Ames, and Central Iowa Area. There will be many activities for the athletes, volunteers, and spectators including a “Festival Village”, a National Youth Summit bringing together both youth with and without disabilities for an educational discussion, evening dances and musical concerts, and a fireworks celebration for July 4th. Celebrities Eunice Kennedy Shriver (Founder of Special Olympics), Tom Arnold (Actor and Comedian), Zach Johnson (PGA Golfer), and Jo Dee Messina (Country Music Star) are expected to attend. For more information visit www.2006nationalgames.org.

 

---

Site Index
Privacy Statement