Penn State will host the 43rd annual Special Olympics Pennsylvania Summer Games June 7-9 on the school’s campus.
Preliminary competition runs through the day next Thursday, seguing into Opening Ceremonies at 7:15 p.m. at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park, including the lighting of the Olympic Torch following a three-day, 150-mile run from home plate at PNC Park in Pittsburgh to home plate at Penn State.
Sue Paterno, wife of the late football coach Joe Paterno and a Special Olympics board member who serves on the Summer Games committee, is expected to be in attendance, the organization said.
The organization saw a spike in donations following Joe Paterno’s death Jan. 22. The family requested donations be made to Special Olympics and THON in lieu of flowers. More than $80,000 was donated to Special Olympics within a month of Paterno’s passing.
In its 25th consecutive year at Penn State, the event will draw more than 2,000 athetes, 750 coaches and 2,500 volunteers from the community, organizations and businesses around the state.
Penn State student-athletes are usually well-represented among the volunteers.
Aquatics, athletics, basketball, bowling, equestrian sports, golf, gymnastics, softball and tennis will highlight the three-day event.
On June 9, final competition will begin at nine venues in individual skills and events, relay, and team events, and conclude with the Closing Ceremonies at Bigler Field with emcee Steve Jones, the radio voice of Penn State football.
