“Let the Games Begin!” While it may feel like a long time before we hear those words at the State Summer Games, the path to those Games begins now with spring sports events kicking off in the next week. Teams have been practicing for weeks. Track, swimming and bocce all have qualifying events coming up and soccer has regional tournament season on the horizon. Check out the spring schedule and come out to cheer on our athletes at an event near you!

Swimming

The swimming season officially opens April 13 with the Northern Kentucky swim meet at Silverlake in Erlanger. The Western Kentucky Swim Meet in Owensboro has been scheduled for April 27. This is the second year that construction at Eastern Kentucky University will force the State Swim Meet away from the State Summer Games. The Brad Harkleroad Memorial State Swim Meet will be held at the University of Louisville in May.

2024 Swimming Schedule
April 13 – Northern Kentucky Swim Meet – Silverlake Family Center, Erlanger
April 27  – Owensboro Swim Meet – Owensboro Health Park
May 18-19 – Brad Harkleroad Memorial State Swim Meet – UofL Ralph Wright Natatorium, Louisville

Track and Field

One of the largest of Special Olympics Kentucky’s 15 sport offerings, track and field offers an easy point of entry to Special Olympics competition for many new athletes. More than 1,000 athletes are expected to compete in track and field statewide this year.

Special Olympics Kentucky offers eight Area Track and Field Meets across the state as qualifiers for the State Summer Games. Athletes must compete in one area meet in order to participate in the State Games.

2024 Track and Field Schedule
April 13 – Area 5 Track and Field Meet – Bowling Green High School
April 20 – Area 1 Track and Field Meet – Calloway County High School, Murray
April 20 – Area 2 Track and Field Meet – Owensboro Middle School
April 20 – Area 3 & 9 Track and Field Meet – Johnson Central High School, Paintsville
April 20 – Area 8 Track and Field Meet – Great Crossing High School, Georgetown
April 27 – Area 6 Track and Field Meet – Southwestern High School, Somerset
April 27 – Area 7 Track and Field Meet – Ryle High School, Union
May 11 – Area 4 Track and Field Meet – Mercy High School, Louisville

Soccer

Soccer is the one team sport offering for Special Olympics Kentucky in the spring. More than 300 athletes compete in the sport each year.

The Special Olympics Kentucky soccer season consists of two regional tournaments that lead to the State Tournament, which is held as part of the State Summer Games. Teams must compete in at least one regional to qualify for the State Games.

2024 Soccer Schedule
April 21 – Versailles Regional Soccer Tournament; WYSA Complex, Versailles
April 28 – Louisville Regional Tournament; Lynn Family Training Center, Louisville

Bocce

Bocce continues to be one of the fastest-growing sports in the Special Olympics Kentucky program. For the first time ever, the bocce season will include a pair of regional tournaments where athletes will compete to advance to the State Summer Games.

Mirroring the Special Olympics Kentucky bowling program, bocce has become the perfect spring sport for athletes with mobility issues and older athletes who still want to participate in the State Summer Games.

2024 Bocce Schedule
April 14 – Louisville Regional Bocce Tournament; Kentucky Country Day School, Louisville
May 5 – Ohio County Regional Bocce Tournament; Ohio County Park, Hartford

Rhythmic Gymnastics

Kentucky has long been a national leader in the area of Special Olympics gymnastics, with Kentucky athletes winning dozens of gold medals at the USA and World Games levels.

The rhythmic gymnastics competition has been held at the State Summer Games for several years after replacing artistic gymnastics at the Games. The change allowed gymnasts to remain on the Eastern Kentucky University campus during the Games instead of having to transport off campus — as far as Lexington in many years — to find a suitable competition site.

For information about the Special Olympics Kentucky swimming and bocce program, contact Kathy Marshall at [email protected]. For more information about the track and field season, contact Kim Satterwhite at [email protected]. For more information about soccer, contact Holly Vincent at [email protected]. All can also be reached at 502-695-8222.