Impact

Volunteers needed for Special Olympics at Penn State

Ernie Roundtree, right, a Special Olympian from Monroe County proudly presented the Flame of Hope to a capacity crowd at the 2015 Special Olympics Pennsylvania Summer Games Opening Ceremonies at Medlar Field on the evening of June 4. The 2016 Summer Games are being held at Penn State June 2 to 4. Credit: Patrick Mansell / Penn StateCreative Commons

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — From June 2 to 4, more than 2,500 Special Olympians and coaches will convene at Penn State’s University Park campus for the annual Summer Games of the Special Olympics. Preparation for the event begins days before the athletes arrive and volunteers are now being enlisted to help with dozens of pregame activities.

“The Special Olympics Pennsylvania Summer Games could not happen without thousands of local volunteers who pitch in each year to manage the Olympic Village, time events, plan award ceremonies and guide athletes,” said volunteer Jeff Smith of Penn State Outreach. “The volunteer need is great, and I am constantly amazed by the support of the Penn State and Centre Region community each year in supporting this wonderful event.”

Volunteers are needed from May 30 to June 5 to serve in many capacities, including competition officials, bowling lane monitors, athlete escorts, assistants for athlete evaluators and award presenters. Volunteers also help by making beds, driving water trucks and assisting in various other ways. Those who register early may request assignments, and families may register together for certain activities.

Summer Games coordinators also are seeking safety and security operations staff to provide a point of contact for communications between the athletes, coaches and spectators and the Special Olympics staff in case of medical emergencies, lost athletes or general information. Safety and security operations volunteers must be at least 18 years of age and be able to remain calm and relay accurate information in the case of emergencies.

The largest event of the year for Special Olympics Pennsylvania, the games begin with athlete arrivals and opening ceremonies on Thursday, June 2, and end with buses heading home the evening of Saturday, June 4. Athletes from all over Pennsylvania will enjoy three days of intense competition in aquatics, athletics, basketball, bowling, equestrian, golf, gymnastics, softball and tennis at University Park venues and locations throughout the region.

Volunteer registration and more information is available at http://www.sopasummergames.net/home.html.

Groups interested in volunteering, and those who have further questions, can contact Jeff Smith at jjs27@psu.edu.

Last Updated May 31, 2016