Athletes Set to Converge on Richmond “For the Love of the Game”

More than 1,000 athletes from across Kentucky are set head to Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond for the 2024 State Summer Games May 31-June 2.

For the second straight year, the Games are trimmed down to just four sports. The Brad Harkleroad Memorial State Swim Meet remains as a stand-alone event due to construction in the Alumni Coliseum facility that includes EKU’s indoor pool.

Summer Games activities get underway early on May 31 in the Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort with the opening of the Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg at 9 am. From there, the Final Leg group will then head to the Capitol steps for the lighting of the Special Olympics Torch, followed by a run from the Capitol. Final Leg participants will then carry the torch to Richmond for the Summer Games Opening Ceremonies. Other stops along the Final Leg, include the annual celebration at Stewart Home and School in Frankfort am with a run from the Stewart Home gate into campus followed by a ceremony with the Stewart Home residents. The torch will then head to Lexington for a run segment. Finally the Flame of Hope will make a stop at the Richmond Police Department at 3:30 followed by a run into campus. The Final Leg participants will also bring the torch into the Opening Ceremonies.

Opening Ceremonies for the Games will begin at 6 pm on May 31 in The Ravine near the center of the EKU campus (weather permitting). The Ceremonies will include the introduction of athletes and the lighting of the Special Olympics cauldron.

Competition will begin Friday night immediately following the Opening Ceremonies. Tom Samuels Track will host the distance races and relays beginning at approximately 7:30 pm on May 31. There will also be several heats of the softball throw competition held at Turkey Hughes Baseball Field on Friday night, as well as the start of the Unified bocce competition on the EKU intramural fields.

Competition continues for all sports on Saturday beginning between 8 and 9 am. Soccer will take place on the Model Soccer Field near the back of campus. Rhythmic gymnastics will return to EKU’s Student Recreation Center where it was held a year ago due to the Alumni Coliseum construction.

Olympic Town and Healthy Athletes also return to their 2023 homes. Both will be open from 9 am until 2 pm. Olympic Town will be located in the Powell Plaza near the Powell Building and the Games Operations Center and the Healthy Athletes Village. As always, Olympic Town will include music, dancing, games and snacks. This year we will offer the most Healthy Athletes disciplines ever will also move back to a more complete schedule, including Opening Eyes, Special Smiles, Healthy Hearing, Fit Feet, Fun Fitness and Health Promotion.

 

Volunteers are needed to help operate the Games. For volunteer opportunities, contact Michaele Roy at 502-695-8222 or [email protected] or visit our volunteer opportunities page.

This is the 12th consecutive year that Kentucky’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives has served as the Platinum Sponsor for the Games, making Touchstone Energy the largest single supporter of the State Summer Games. In addition, Kentucky’s Touchstone Energy has signed on as the official water sponsor for the year for Special Olympics Kentucky. In that role they will provide all of the bottled water for volunteers and each athlete, coach and volunteer lunch will have a bottle of water provided by Touchstone.

Longtime SOKY supporter Kona Ice joins the Summer Games as a sponsor this year as the Olympic Town Presenting Sponsor.

This will be the ninth year that Chick-fil-A Central Kentucky stores are teaming up to provide all lunches for athletes, coaches and volunteers on the day of the Games.

For information about the 2024 Special Olympics Kentucky State Summer Games, contact Special Olympics Kentucky President/CEO Trish Mazzoni at 502-695-8222 or via e-mail at [email protected].

See Photos from the 2023 State Summer Games

The 2024 Special Olympics Kentucky State Summer Games are made possible through the generosity of platinum sponsor Kentucky’s Touchstone Energy Cooperatives, Special Olympics Kentucky year-round partners Jersey Mike’s, Texas Roadhouse and Toyota; Olympic Town Presenting Sponsor Kona Ice, Gold Lunch Sponsor Chick-fil-A, Gold Sponsors amentum, Eastern Kentucky University, the Knights of Columbus and Walmart; Outreach Partner Discover U Kentucky/Zoom Group; Silver Sponsors Dever Golf Cars, Lockheed Martin, Richmond Tourism and Southland Dairy Farmers; Bronze Sponsors the City of Richmond, Eastside Community Church, EKU Catering, Greentree Forest Products, LBX Company, Penske Truck Rental, Waste Connections and Whitaker Bank.