Latest news with #SpecialOlympicsIndiana
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Special Olympics Indiana's Summer Games begin in Terre Haute
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Thousands of athletes, volunteers, and supporters from around the state of Indiana are in Terre Haute this weekend for Special Olympics Indiana's biggest event of the year. Athlete Hunter Canada said the feeling is amazing. 'It's pretty entertaining and fun just being out there with all the other people competing', Canada said. 'I'm wishing everybody good luck.' Athletes compete in a number of different events like swimming on the campus of Rose-Hulman and volleyball, track and field, and pickleball at Indiana State. One duo from Jackson County, AJ Engel and Hunter Canada, claimed the top two spots in their 800-meter race. 'I was expecting him to pass me at the end, but we were expecting to get first and second', Canada said. 'It feels good to take first and second', Engel said. 'The runners were good competition.' Some athletes have been competing for their entire lives. 'I've done this for as long as I remember', Engel said. 'I've run track in middle school and high school. I just really feel like Special Olympics is good.' Other, like Madison Carter, have chosen the volunteer route. 'I've actually been doing this for eight years now', Carter said. 'I started out in high school doing Best Buddies, unified track, peer tutoring, you name it, I've probably done it. Then I've been in volleyball since I was nine years old, so I reached out to somebody here at Special Olympics. I started as a volunteer, then became a part of the management team, and now I'm the manager of it all.' All involved agree the best part about the event is coming together. 'The camaraderie and building those relationships throughout the entire experience here is like no other', Carter said. 'I've seen people since I started eight years ago, all the way to new people this year. I think those relationships are like no other.' Events will continue in Terre Haute and on the campuses of Indiana State and Rose-Hulman through the weekend. All events are open to the public at no cost. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
2025 Indiana Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — The 2025 Special Olympics Summer Games in Terre Haute begin in one week and to kick off the events, local law enforcement and officials put their running shoes on. Officers from all branches come together, each year, to run alongside Special Olympics Indiana Athletes, signifying the beginning of the 2025 Special Olympics Summer Games. Quentin Seger is an officer at the Wabash Valley Correctional Facility. He said community is the most important aspect of this event. 'Coming together as a community is always important', Seger said. 'I'm a big believer in strength in numbers, so if a community can come together and show support for an organization, I think it's a huge help for a community to build a stronger bond and a relationship as a whole.' Participants ran three miles through downtown Terre Haute and Indiana State's campus, alongside Special Olympics athlete Shelby Baker, who was carrying the torch to start the race and cross the finish line. Terre Haute Mayor Brandon Sakbun said this run is just the start of local law enforcement's participation in the Special Olympics Summer Games. 'A lot of the local law enforcement agencies are actively involved, and I say actively because they don't just sponsor', Sakbun said. 'They do the high five line, they help compete in some of the events, they do the memorial run which means just so much to the athletes and the organization.' The Special Olympics Summer Games will begin in Terre Haute on June 6th, bringing together thousands of athletes, partners, and volunteers. Sakbun said the numbers do more than just help Terre Haute. 'Anytime you bring over 2,500 athletes, as well as their families, to the community that's obviously a huge boost', Sakbun said. 'I think what it also does, a unique event like this, is it inspires folks. The challenges that they go through to come through all of that and then champion at the end of it, honestly means a lot.' The Special Olympics Summer Games will take place from June 6th through the 8th, on the campuses of Indiana State and Rose-Hulman. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Special Olympics Summer Games coming in June
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)—Special Olympics Indiana's yearly Summer Games are coming back to Terre Haute on June 6-8. The event is set to bring in 2,400 athletes to the campuses of Indiana State University and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. The three-day competition will consist of seven Olympic-type sports: bocce, bowling, cycling, powerlifting, swimming, track and field, and volleyball. special Olympics athletes and Unified Partners will represent 60 delegations from across Indiana. 'For the athletes, these three days are a chance to reunite with friends and celebrate their sports through competition and camaraderie,' Special Olympics Indiana President and CEO Jeff Mohler said. 'We are proud to host these athletes and look forward to seeing all their hard work these past few months pay off.' The games will begin with an opening ceremony featuring a parade of athletes, live entertainment, and the lighting of the cauldron at Hulman Center. Duke Energy will also be sponsoring Olympic Town, which will have a variety of activities, souvenirs, entertainment, and games. The Olympic Town will also feature a pickleball instruction and demonstration. There will also be a Healthy Athletes Area that will include free screenings and health education to promote healthy nutrition and habits. All activities are free and open to the public. Volunteers are still needed for support, and if you have any interest, you can visit to learn more and register. A full schedule for the games will be listed below. Opening Ceremony ISU's Holman Center Friday, June 6: 7-9 p.m. Bocce ISU's Marks Field Friday, June 6: noon-5 June 7: 8 a.m.-noon., 1:30-5 June 8: 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Bowling Terre Haute Bowl and Vigo Bowl Friday, June 6: noon-5 8 a.m.-noon., 1:30-5 June 8: 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Cycling ISU's Rec East Friday, June 6: noon-5 June 7: 8 a.m.-noon Powerlifting ISU's College of Health and Human Services North Gym Friday, June 6: noon-5 June 7: 8 a.m.-noon., 1:30-5 June 8: 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Swimming Rose-Hulman Sports and Recreation Center Friday, June 6: 1-5 June 7: 8 a.m.-noon., 1:30-5:30 June 8: 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Track and Field ISU's Gibson Track and North Field Friday, June 6: noon-5 June 7: 8 a.m.-noon., 1:30-5 June 8: 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Volleyball ISU's Student Recreation Center Friday, June 6: noon-5 June 7: 8 a.m.-noon., 1:30-5 June 8: 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Pickleball (Demonstration) ISU Parking Lot 14 Friday, June 6: 10 a.m.-4 June 7: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Olympic Town ISU Parking Lot 14 Friday, June 6: 10 a.m.-4 June 7: 9 a.m.-4 June 8: 9 a.m.-noon Healthy Athletes ISU's College of Health and Human Services Friday, June 6: 9 a.m.-4 June 7: 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Special Olympics Indiana Law Enforcement Torch Run to take place in Terre Haute
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)— Officers from across the Hoosier state are participating in the annual Special Olympics Indiana Law Enforcement Torch Run, one of which takes place in Terre Haute. On May 30, Indiana Law enforcement Officers will run alongside Special Olympics Indiana athletes carrying the Flame of Hope and signaling a start to the 2025 Summer Games. One of the two events will be taking place at the Bicentennial Unity Plaza in Indianapolis, while the other will take place at Indiana State University's Hulman Center in Terre Haute. The Terre Haute event will begin at noon and is a three-mile run that will take the participants through the city and campus. This run is done to help celebrate the power of acceptance, diversity, and inclusion. The torches used during the run will also be used to ignite the cauldron at the 2025 Summer Games Opening Ceremony that will be held on June 6 at ISU. Community leaders, residents, and businesses along the course are invited to come out and cheer on participants. These runs were first started in 1981 in Wichita, Kansas, and have grown into the largest international grassroots supporter for the Special Olympics. Funds raised by both Indiana events will go towards sports training and competition for people with intellectual disabilities at no cost to the participant. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
EPD participating in statewide Cop on a Rooftop fundraiser
ELKHART — On Friday from 5 a.m. to noon, Elkhart police will be participating in a statewide Cop on a Rooftop Fundraiser. The proceeds will benefit Special Olympics Indiana. Elkhart Police Department officers will be at Dunkin', 335 C.R. 6 East, Elkhart, and not physically on the roof collecting money. Hosted by the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Indiana, money collected at this statewide fundraiser goes directly to support programming for Special Olympics athletes in Indiana. Dunkin' guests who donate to Cop on a Rooftop will receive a coupon for a free doughnut. Guests who donate $10 or more will receive a coupon for a free medium hot or iced coffee. Now in its 11th year, Cop on a Rooftop has raised over $118,000 for Special Olympics Indiana. All money raised goes directly back to support the more than 19,000 athletes across the state-giving them opportunities to participate in a variety of sports programming, foster a healthy lifestyle develop leadership skills and create a sense of belonging and inclusion for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
