EKU LOOKING AHEAD TO HOST ITS 24th KENTUCKY SPECIAL OLYMPICS SUMMER STATE GAMES
For the past 23 years, Special Olympics of Kentucky’s State Summer Games have been held at EKU. During the first weekend in June, athletes from all over the state travel to campus, beaming with passion and determination, competing for a chance to advance to the national games.
Kentucky Special Olympics will celebrate its 50th year this year. EKU looks forward to hosting the Special Olympics State Games June 1-3, 2018, and celebrating with them.
Trish Mazzoni, President/CEO of Special Olympics of Kentucky said the longevity of the relationship with EKU speaks volumes about the venue and the staff and community who help support the event each year.
“We have such a good experience in Richmond. More than any other campus we have been on, we are truly welcomed and our mission is understood at EKU,” Mazzoni said. “On our last day on campus, I look over and see a couple of athletes crying their eyes out on a bench. Their coach looked at me and said, ‘They don’t want to leave. They don’t want to go home.’ This is the one time a year that so many of our athletes get to get out of their hometowns and have the time of their lives.”
Mazonni added that EKU’s Department of Conferencing and Events strategizes and works the organization to ensure that all of its unique needs and last-minute requests are accommodated.
“That is unique. It’s truly a partnership. I can’t stress enough it’s the staff that makes the difference,” Mazzoni said. “When we come to campus, we are event people who are working with event people and together, we are darn good.”
Last year, nearly 1,400 students, 600 volunteers and thousands of family and friends packed the Richmond Campus from June 2 through June 4. The campus was buzzing with energy as young athletes competed in events like track and field, swimming, soccer, bocce and rhythmic gymnastics.
“We had our best year ever this past June,” Mazzoni said. “We always leave EKU having a sense of that.”
See what Special Olympics events are coming up at soky.org.
Published on May 08, 2018