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The Special Olympics USA Games Are Coming to Walt Disney World

Credit: Disney

This year’s Special Olympics USA Games are set to be bigger than ever, with thousands of athletes from around the country heading to the Walt Disney World Resort for their chance to compete. The event will take place June 5-12, 2022, at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World.

Credit: WFTV

WFTV reports that this year’s Special Olympics USA Games will host more than 5,000 athletes participating in 19 different sports right here at the Walt Disney World Resort.

Special Olympics Florida has had programs in place since 1972, which in addition to the Olympic Games has included training facilities and programming available all year long to local Florida athletes with intellectual disabilities. The programs have been made possible through the support of over 38,000 coaches and volunteers, and over the years Special Olympics Florida has worked to support nearly 60,000 total athletes.

Special Olympics Florida President and CEO Sherry Wheelock spoke to WFTV sharing, “We are thrilled to celebrate our 50th anniversary and so grateful to the volunteers, coaches, and partners who have made this remarkable journey possible. We have worked for 50 years to ensure that our athletes are treated with the respect and compassion they deserve, and we will continue our efforts to build communities of inclusion and acceptance all across Florida.”

Walt Disney World’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex includes 230 acres of state-of-the-art athletic facilities that offer Disney the ability to host over 60 sports for thousands of athletes of all ages and abilities. Throughout the year, ESPN Wide World of Sports hosts national high school and collegiate sports championships, training programs, and runDisney events, including the Health and Fitness Expo that runners are invited to attend prior to each race.

This year’s upcoming Special Olympics USA Games will take place at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at the Walt Disney World Resort beginning with the opening ceremony on June 5, 2022.

About Brittany DiCologero

Brittany is a New England-based writer focused on the history of the Walt Disney World Resort. She is the author of "Red, White, and Disney: The Myths and Reality of American History at the Walt Disney World Resort," and "Brittany Earns Her Ears."

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