Special Olympics Summer Sports Series Set for June 19th & 20th

Special Olympics Connecticut will host its Summer Sports Series, presented by Raytheon Technologies, on Saturday, June 19th and Sunday, June 20th. While the event will be a modified version of Special Olympics' traditional, beloved Summer Games with limited attendees, hundreds of athletes will have the opportunity to safely compete in-person after returning to the playing field for practices last month.

Summer Sports Series competition will be held at the following venues on Saturday, June 19th, beginning at 9:30 a.m.:

-All-Star Soccer Skills Jamboree, Swimming and Tennis at Fairfield University

-Cycling at 181 West Johnson Road (Cheshire Industrial Park) in Cheshire

-Track & Field at Fitch High School in Groton

-Track & Field at Crosby High School in Waterbury (Waterbury team only)

Also,

-Track & Field at Fairfield Warde High School on Saturday and Sunday morning
(The rain date for all events is Sunday, June 20th)

The event will kick-off with an Opening Ceremony at Fairfield University on Friday, June 18th at 6:45 p.m. The Opening Ceremony will feature NBC Connecticut's Ryan Hanrahan as the emcee, the National Anthem sung by Special Olympics Greenwich Athlete David Tovar and the Final Leg of the 35th Anniversary Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Connecticut. Visit soct.org and follow Special Olympics Connecticut on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to find out more.

In addition, Special Olympics athletes across the state are currently pushing themselves to build strength and endurance by walking or running 1500 Meters to join the organization's new 1500 Meter Club and receive a medal. Athletes who've achieved this status include teammates from Special Olympics Trumbull, Bristol, Waterbury and Wethersfield. Athletes have also been completing virtual sports activities and participating in the SOCTFit5 Facebook group to engage in exercise, learn about nutrition and enhance their health.

To learn more about Special Olympics and support its athletes, visit soct.org.

In addition to Raytheon Technologies, Summer Sports Series Sponsors include Alexion and Sikorsky - Platinum Sponsors; Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Comcast/NBC Connecticut and Telemundo Connecticut, ESPN, Foxwoods Resort Casino, Henkel, Knights of Columbus, NBC Sports and Synchrony Financial - Gold Sponsors; Geico, Linde, NJM Insurance Group, Starwood Property Trust and TD Bank - Bronze Sponsors; the American Legion, the Feroleto Steel Company, JLL, pwc and the Walter Camp Foundation - Supporting Sponsors and iHeart Radio Connecticut, Hearst Connecticut Media Group and NBC Connecticut and Telemundo Connecticut - Media Sponsors.

About Special Olympics Connecticut
Special Olympics Connecticut provides year-round sports training and competitions for more than 12,000 athletes of all ages with intellectual disabilities and Unified Sports® partners - their teammates without disabilities. Through the joy of sport, the Special Olympics movement transforms lives and communities throughout the state and in 193 countries around the world by promoting good health and fitness and inspiring inclusion and respect for people of all abilities, on and off the playing field. (www.soct.org)

Partner Sponsors: Bozzuto's Inc., Enterprise, ESPN, Eversource Energy, The Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation, The Hometown Foundation, Law Enforcement Torch Run, NBC Connecticut and Telemundo Connecticut, TD Bank, Raytheon Technologies and WWE.

Year-Round Suppliers: Adams Hometown Markets/IGA Hometown Supermarkets, Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast, Connecticut Portable Storage/PODS, Marcus Communications, N&D Sports, Poland Spring, State of Connecticut Judicial Branch Community Service and WORX.