Nearly 1,000 athletes will go for the gold at the Special Olympics Wisconsin (SOWI) State Outdoor Sports Tournament hosted for the first-time ever in Waukesha on Saturday, August 3 from 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. and on and Sunday, August 4 from 8 a.m.- 1 p.m. Bocce, tee ball, and tennis competitions will take place at Carroll University, golf will take place at the Moor Downs Golf Course, and softball competitions will take place at the Saratoga Softball Complex.
Anyone can share their time, but those who volunteer at this event will share an athlete’s dream. SOWI needs more than 100 volunteers to help escort athletes, present awards, score events, assist with food services, and more! All volunteers receive a free T-shirt and those working a full day will receive a complimentary lunch! Various shifts are available. Click here to register as a volunteer or call (800) 552-1324.
In addition to the hundreds of volunteers who will come to Waukesha for this event, the partnership with the surrounding community is expected to bring approximately 300 coaches, dozens of medical professionals and hundreds of spectators to the area over the weekend during its first year at the new venue. For the past 20 years, SOWI had held the tournament in Eau Claire. With the input of many volunteers and staff, SOWI relocated the tournament to southwest Wisconsin to reduce travel costs for teams.
“We are honored to partner with Special Olympics Wisconsin to provide outstanding venues for athletes to compete,” said Claire Beglinger, Carroll University’s director of public relations. “Athletes, families, coaches and volunteers will find the Carroll and Waukesha communities a welcome and vibrant venue for this event.”
The tournament is free and the public is invited to cheer athletes on from the stands. In addition to the competitions during the weekend, health professionals will also offer dental and foot screenings, blood pressure and bone mineral density screenings, along with nutritional advice to the athletes as part of the Health Promotions, Special Smiles and Fit Feet programs on Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Carroll University Campus Center on Saturday, August 3.
SOWI is a statewide organization that unleashes the transformative power and joy of sports everyday around the world. Through work in sports, health, education, and community building, Special Olympics is addressing inactivity, injustice, intolerance, and social isolation by encouraging and empowering people with intellectual disabilities which leads to a more welcoming and inclusive society. With the support of coaches and volunteers, Special Olympics is able to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in 17 Olympic-type sports to nearly 10,000 individuals with intellectual disabilities. Thank you to Kwik Trip and the Law Enforcement Torch Run, the Mission Partners of SOWI, enabling the organization to hold more than 500 competitions annually throughout the state. Join our online community by following us on Twitter and Facebook! For more information, visit SpecialOlympicsWisconsin.org or call (800) 552-1324.
