Special Olympics Minnesota Athletes to Compete at Summer Games

Nearly 1,400 athletes to compete June 23-25 at the University of Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS, June 17, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Nearly 1,400 Special Olympics athletes from across Minnesota will compete at the 2011 Summer Games, June 23-25. One of five state Special Olympics Minnesota competitions annually, Summer Games includes track and field events at the University of Minnesota's Bierman Athletics Complex (corner of 15th Avenue SE and 5th Street SE), volleyball at the University of Minnesota's Recreation Center (1906 University Avenue SE), tennis at Life Time Fitness in Lakeville (18425 Dodd Boulevard) and gymnastics competition at Mini-Hops Gymnastics Club in Minnetonka (131 Cheshire Lane, Suite 100). More than 1,400 volunteers will help make Summer Games possible, and all competitions are free and open to the public.

The 2011 Summer Games Celebration Ceremonies will be held Friday, June 24, at 7:30 p.m. at the University of Minnesota's Bierman Field and will include guest speakers, an athlete parade, Minnesota law enforcement personnel and the ceremonial lighting of the "Flame of Hope" by a Special Olympics Minnesota athlete. Law enforcement volunteers will participate in a 2,000-mile Final Leg relay running the flame across Minnesota in the week leading up to Summer Games. The 2011 Torch Run will culminate at Bierman Field for Celebration Ceremonies. Pre-ceremony entertainment will begin Friday at 5 p.m. and will include a performance by a Greek-themed band. Between competitions, athletes will have the chance to spend time in Olympic Town, where they can play carnival games, make new friends and participate in fun activities, including making a take-home potted plant at IREM's Pot-a-Plant tent, playing Wii games supplied by Best Buy and dancing to music at the Boogie Town tent. Athletes can also visit Law Enforcement Village, where they can see squad cars and meet some of the law enforcement officers who raise funds throughout the year for Special Olympics Minnesota. Olympic Town also includes and autograph-signing table and the Olympic Town Stage, where performers will entertain athletes throughout the games. Stage performances include magician Frederick Moore, Amy and Josh Countryman and the Brad Nelson Band, Croix Chordsmen Barbershoppers, juggler Scott Richter, The Smarts Band, Rince na Chroi Irish Dancers and Comedy Magician Amazing Jeffo.

Athletes can also partake in Healthy Athletes, a series of free medical screenings designed to increase the health and fitness of people with intellectual disabilities, a medically underserved population. The Healthy Athletes program works to improve access to health care by providing a variety of free screenings, making referrals to local health practitioners and training health professionals and students about the needs of people with intellectual disabilities. The 2011 Summer Games Healthy Athletes Village runs throughout the games and will offer Healthy Hearing, Opening Eyes, Special Smiles and Health Promotion. Athletes can also receive free chair massages from Minnesota School of Business—Massage Therapy and glucose screenings from HealthEast.

Special Olympics Minnesota offers children and adults with intellectual disabilities year-round sports training and competition. Through Special Olympics' athletic, health and leadership programs, people with intellectual disabilities transform themselves, their communities and the world.

2011 Summer Games Schedule of Events:

Created by the Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation for the Benefit of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities

E-mail [email protected]

www.specialolympicsminnesota.org

SOURCE Special Olympics Minnesota