Special Olympics Missouri (SOMO) will be hosting its first-ever Virtual Summer Games this May and June. Due to COVID-19, the State Summer Games experience had to be altered and moved to an online format.
SOMO says 2020 Virtual Summer Games will be unlike any other competition Special Olympics Missouri has ever held. It will include opportunities for athletes and Unified Partners to compete in a variety of events from the comfort of their own homes.
From May 16-18, athletes will “compete” by turning in their scores for all of the events in which they are interested in competing. The results will be announced via Facebook Live at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 6.
Nine events are featured: planking, speed dribble (basketball), standing long jump, run/walk/roll (150 feet), run/walk/roll (75 feet), wall sits, volleyball set/bump, swimming kicks and soccer juggling. These aren’t SOMO’s traditional events, but these events don’t require much equipment and can easily be done from home. There are modified and unified divisions for several of the events as well.
The Virtual Summer Games kick off with the Opening Ceremony at 7 p.m. on Friday, June 5, via Facebook Live. The virtual Opening Ceremony will include pieces that would traditionally be in a Special Olympics Missouri Opening Ceremony, including the Oath for athletes and coaches, a Law-Enforcement Torch Run, entertainment, a special guest declaring the games officially open and much more.
For much more information, you can visit somo.org.