This year the Special Olympic games are taking place in Florida and Walt Disney World’s ESPN Wide World of Sports seems to be the central location for the event. The Special Olympic games that will take place at the sports complex will include basketball, powerlifting, volleyball, soccer and track & field. To kick off the event Disney had a special parade to celebrate the athletes.
Joe Dzaluk, President and CEO of 2022 Special Olympics USA Games had this to say:
“We are excited for the first time in 50 years the games are here in Florida. Our first athletes arrived this morning.
A majority of the events are going to take place down at ESPN Wide World of Sports. This is the biggest game with over 5,500 athletes and coaches and they’re going to get to show everything that they’ve been working on for the last couple of years.
20 sports [will be played] that’s 50% more than in the past. We’re even doing surfing at Typhoon Lagoon.”
Here is a video about the event that Disney posted:
The parade was the final leg of the Special Olympics USA Games Law Enforcement Torch Run before the games. The torch run started in Chicago end ended at the Exploria Stadium in Orlando. From there it went to Main Street U.S.A. at the Magic Kingdom.
Faron Kelley, Vice President of ESPN Wide World of Sports had these comments:
“All we want to do is just match all our effort with all the work they have put in to get here. It is going to be a tremendous event and we could not be more proud as Walt Disney World, as Central Florida, to host this incredible event.”
How to watch the Special Olympics Games:
Today is the start of the event with the Special Olympics USA Games Opening Ceremony. This ceremony will air on ABC, the ESPN App and ESPN3.
Coverage of the Special Olympics USA Games will continue on Tuesday and Wednesday. This will be available on ESPN2 and the ESPN App. Live streaming coverage can be viewed on ESPN3 throughout the week.
The coverage will conclude on June 12 with a special program, “Best of the Special Olympics USA Games,’’ that will be viewable on ABC, ESPN3 and the ESPN App.
Good luck and congratulations to all the athletes!
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Source: Disney Parks Blog
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