Summer State Games Lodging and Transportation

Special Olympics Oregon - Oregon

Special Olympics Oregon (SOOR) serves more than 5,000 participants across the state with intellectual disabilities through the organization’s year-round, life changing sports programs. Athletes gain self-confidence, social competency, develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community.

The Special Olympics Oregon Summer State Games bring athletes and families from across Oregon together. All athletes and teams train in their hometowns for a minimum of 8 weeks. They then participate in regional-level competitions held throughout the state to qualify to compete at the Summer Games.

This hugely popular event also includes Healthy Athletes programming, which provides vital, no-cost health screenings and education for Special Olympics athletes and their families in a welcoming, fun environment by medical professionals who have gone through training to learn best practices in treating patients with intellectual disabilities. Athletes and their families will also enjoy a Games Ceremony, a Dance, Olympic Town, the Final Leg Torch Run and more.  

Financial challenges from prior management and the COVID-19 pandemic caused a 7-year pause in the state games.  Bringing them back was a major initiative for SOOR. One of many challenges was to obtain support to cover the lodging and transportation cost necessary to bring so many athletes and coaches together.  Athletes will experience the thrill and camaraderie of staying in the dorms at OSU for a college-like experience!  The JTMF Foundation is excited to partner with SOOR through this funding as continuation of our support for the IDD community.