The Special Olympics has long been a haven for individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities, a place where they can test their athletic skills and build relationships through traditional and unified sports.
From June 14–21, central New Jersey is set to host the culmination of those events, the 2014 Special Olympics USA Games.
The games, held every four years, consist of 16 Olympic-style events over the course of one week. This year, the events are set to be held at several venues primarily located in Mercer County.
Nearly 3,500 athletes, 1,000 coaches and 70,000 spectators are expected at the games. Team New Jersey alone will feature 270 athletes.
The athletes tried out and were notified in summer 2013 that they’d been accepted into the USA Games, and have spent the past year preparing for the big event.
The athletes’ stories span past their accomplishments of just being selected for the games, too.
Their pride also comes from beating the odds and improving themselves: an athlete running laps around the track when doctors initially thought he wouldn’t be able to walk, friendships built with peers through unified sports, and the discovery of new abilities rather than a focus on disabilities.
And as the athletes ramp up their training and reflect on the opportunity ahead, another team is working hard to make sure the games—and athletes—see their full potential during the week.
The volunteers working behind the scenes are carefully planning out every aspect of the week, from making sure meals and water are available for athletes and securing officials for the events, to welcoming the athletes as they arrive in town and assisting with media coverage.
The week also shows how much the Special Olympics organization has grown.
Special Olympics first began in the early 1960s, when Eunice Kennedy Shriver started a day camp for people with intellectual disabilities and realized their capabilities in sports and physical activities.
Since then, the organization has only continued to grow, first with the International Special Olympics Games in 1968 held at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois, and the introduction of the first USA Games in Ames, Iowa in 2006.
To read about Mercer County’s top athletes, see how local volunteers are getting involved, and learn more about Special Olympics, click the links below.
Meet Lawrence’s Special Olympics Team New Jersey Members
Meet Hamilton’s Special Olympics Team New Jersey members
Meet Ewing’s Special Olympics Team New Jersey members
Summer of firsts for Special Olympics coach, plus Robbinsville’s athletes
For Hopewell Township resident, triathlon berth is 20 years in the making
Multisport Special Olympics athlete loving the sporting life
Meet some of the volunteers helping to make the Special Olympics USA Games possible
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