Capital Region Colleges, Businesses Come Together to Host Special Olympics Summer Games

November 17, 2016

Neal J. Johnson, president and CEO of Special Olympics New York, announced the 2017 & 2018 State Summer Games will be hosted by Siena College and surrounding community venues, including Hudson Valley Community College. This will mark the first time in a decade that Special Olympics New York will be back in the Capital Region for the State Summer Games.

Athletic competition will take place Saturday, June 17, 2017 at Siena College, Hudson Valley Community College, The Sage Colleges, World Class Gymnastics and Spare Time Bowling alley. All events, including the opening and closing ceremonies are free and open to the general public.

"Hudson Valley Community College is proud to partner with Special Olympics New York in hosting the 2017-2018 Summer Games. We're looking forward to holding events at our new Outdoor Athletic Complex, which will be home to the track and field and tennis competitions during the games," said Hudson Valley Community College President Drew Matonak. "This is a great opportunity to share our new facilities with the community, and also a wonderful chance to welcome the athletes and attendees of the Special Olympics to our region and our campus. We are honored to be a part of such an important and exciting event."

The Summer Games are the largest of two annual state games and 5,048 competitive experiences held each year throughout New York. Athletes must qualify at a local level to compete in the State Summer Games.

Special Olympics New York provides year-round sports training and competition in 22 Olympic-style sports to children and adults with intellectual disabilities at no cost to the athletes, their families or caregivers. There are 67,162 athletes that train and compete with Special Olympics New York, the largest Special Olympics program in North America.

Numerous volunteers from surrounding communities are needed to support the State Summer Games. For more information and to register online, please visit the website at www.specialolympicsny.org or email volunteer@nyso.org.