Contact:  Christie McDevitt, (800) 235-9058, ext. 231, or cmcdevitt@specialolympicspa.org

35 Years of Summer Games:  2004 Special Olympics Pennsylvania Summer Games to be Held At Penn State University June 3-6

(Norristown, PA, April 9) The 2004 Special Olympics Pennsylvania (SOPA) Summer Games are set for June 3-6, 2004, at Penn State University in State College.  This is the 17^th consecutive year that the campus will host the event and the 35^th year that SOPA has held Summer Games, which will bring together over 2,000 athletes and 700 coaches from across the state for three days of intense competition in aquatics, athletics, basketball, bowling, equestrian, golf, gymnastics, softball and tennis.

Preliminary Summer Games competition will begin on Thursday, June 3, in the following events:  athletics, basketball, golf, softball and aquatics.  Thursday will conclude with the traditional fanfare of Opening Ceremonies at Penn State's Bigler Field, beginning at 7:15 p.m.  On Friday, June 6, competition will begin in bowling, equestrian, gymnastics and tennis, with Saturday also featuring competition at most venues.  Closing Ceremonies and a Victory Dance for the athletes at the University's Rec Hall will round out three days of vigorous competition on Saturday evening. 

Last year's Summer Games drew approximately 2,000 volunteers from the State College community to serve as officials, timers, athlete escorts and award presenters, as well as to provide administrative support services.  New volunteers and spectators are always welcome.  There is never any cost for volunteers or spectators to participate at Special Olympics.  For more information about volunteering, please call the Special Olympics State College office at (800) 865-3600.

Special Olympics Pennsylvania (SOPA) provides year-round training and competition in 23 Olympic-type sports to more than 26,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities.  For more information about how SOPA inspires greatness, visit our Web site at www.specialolympicspa.org.  For more information about Summer Games, visit www.sopasummergames.org.