This week Seattle is hosting the Special Olympics! You may have seen some of the 4,000 athletes from around the country exploring the city with their purple T-shirts, ID badges, and smiles. From July 1-6, these athletes will be competing in a variety of sporting events at UW and other venues around town. Independence day is the perfect time to join the festivities and cheer on these star athletes. On July 4th, events are scheduled throughout the day at UW – basketball at Alaska Airlines Arena, flag football at IMA fields, volleyball at IMA, and bocce at Dempsey Indoor. You can check the event calendar here
The Special Olympics was founded in 1968 and has since grown into a movement that includes over 5.7 million athletes, and over a million coaches and volunteers helping to make the event possible. The Special Olympics is designed to empower people with intellectual disabilities to become valued and accepted in their communities. This year, the USA Special Olympics games are hosted by the Special Olympics Washington group, a Washington state athletic program that includes over 17,000 Washington state residents with intellectual disabilities. To find out how to become involved in Special Olympics Washington click here.