The Only Time Team Kentucky Will Gather Before the Games

For the first time since the team was named in mid-2021 all 60 athletes, Unified partners and coaches who make up Team Kentucky for the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games will gather in one place. The team will meet March 18-20 in Richmond for Team Kentucky Training Camp. The camp is designed to give the athletes an opportunity to get to know one another, and for athletes who live in different parts of the state than their USA Games coaches to get to know their coaches and practice with their USA Games teammates. It also provides a test run for athletes and coaches for living in a setting that approximates what they will be in at the USA Games.

Athletes will check in and meet their coaches at the TownePlace Suites at Colby Taylor Dr. in Richmond at 7 pm on Friday, March 18. They will have an opportunity to spend time with their teammates and coaches, play games and relax until team curfew.

Activities begin with breakfast at 8 am on Saturday, March 19 before the Camp kicks into high gear. Each of the eight sport delegations that will represent Kentucky at the USA Games will practice on Saturday. The golf team will practice at Arlington Golf Course beginning at 1 pm. The Unified basketball, bocce, flag football, swimming and track and field teams will all practice on campus at Eastern Kentucky University. Bocce athletes will practice in the EKU Student Rec Center from 1-3 pm. Flag Football will practice at the same time on the EKU intramural fields. Swimming will be in the Alumni Coliseum pool from 9-11 am. Unified basketball will practice on the student recreation courts from 9-11. Track and Field will practice on either the Student Recreation Center track or the outdoor track at EKU. Bowlers will practice at the Galaxy Bowl in Richmond from 1-3 pm. Gymnasts will make the trip to Lexington to practice at Legacy Gymnastics on Ruccio Way at a yet to be determined time.

In addition to practices on Saturday, athletes and coaches will be fitted for team uniforms at the TownePlace Suites on Saturday either before or after practice. They will also have lunch as a delegation during the day.

On Sunday, there will be a meeting with athlete s’ parents at 10 am when they arrive to pick up their athletes and athletes will depart.

Team Kentucky features athletes and Unified partners from throughout Kentucky, including Alexandria, Almo, Benton, Bowling Green, Calvert City, Crestwood, Dexter, Elizabethtown, Finchville, Franklin, Gilbertsville, Glasgow, Hawesville, Lexington, Louisville, Murray, Newport, Ohio County, Olive Hill, Rockport, Russellville, Shepherdsville, Union and Versailles.

The 2022 Special Olympics USA Games, scheduled for June 5-12, 2022, in Orlando, Florida, will unite more than 5,500 athletes and coaches from all 50 states and the Caribbean during one of the country’s most cherished sporting events–the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games. The USA Games will offer 19 Olympic-style team and individual sports, including athletics (track & field), basketball, bocce, bowling, cheerleading, equestrian, flag football, golf, gymnastics, open water swimming, powerlifting, soccer, softball, stand up paddleboard, surfing, swimming, tennis, triathlon and volleyball.

Kentucky has had tremendous success at the USA National Games. In Seattle in 2018, 45 Kentucky athletes claimed a program-record 50 medals, including 20 golds. In 2014, 48 Team Kentucky athletes combined to win 36 medals including 18 gold. The 2010 Team Kentucky group consisted of 39 athletes and claimed 34 medals, including 10 Golds. The 2006 National Games team saw 42 athletes capture 42 medals, including 18 Golds.

For more information about Team Kentucky or the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games, contact Special Olympics Kentucky VP of Field and Athlete Services and Team Kentucky Head of Delegation Kim Satterwhite at 800-633-7403 or via e-mail at [email protected].

Special Olympics is the world’s largest program of sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Participation in competitive events is open to all individuals eight years of age or older. Training and competition in local, area, state, and national programs is offered year-round in Kentucky in 15 sports. In addition to its traditional sports competitions, Special Olympics also offers early childhood programming through the Young Athletes Program and medical screenings though the Healthy Athletes Initiative. Special Olympics celebrated its global 50^th anniversary in 2018.