Special Olympics State Summer Games postponed


special-olympics-2-8
The Flame of Hope waits to be lit during the opening ceremony for Special Olympics summer games May 30 in Kelly/Shorts Stadium.

The 2020 Special Olympics State Summer Games have been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Special Olympics Michigan made the decision to postpone all in-person events through May 31 and includes the Summer Games, which were scheduled for May 28-30 at Central Michigan University. 

The organization said in a release on Friday it is working to reschedule and potentially modify the State Summer Games with a placeholder for the week of July 20. The release said the Games could be modified to be one- or two-day event. 

"We serve a population where many are at a heightened risk due to age and/or compromised immune systems," the release read. "While canceling events is truly disappointing for athletes who have trained for months to compete – as well as for the volunteers, family, friends and our staff and board who support them and look forward to cheering for them – we know that our love of sport doesn’t compare to the importance of protecting the health and safety of all involved."

Senior Director of Marketing and Communications Aaron Mills said SOMI is in talks with CMU to keep the modified games on campus, depending on whether or not the campus is open and the facilitates are not being used for sports camps. 

Share: