CMU recently announced it will host Colorado’s Special Olympics Summer Games 2013. The games will be held June 1-2. The event brings the state’s top athletes together to compete in track and field, soccer, swimming, gymnastics and power lifting.

Special Olympics Colorado (SOCO) provides year-round training and competition in 22 sports for more than 12,000 athletes living in Colorado. With the support of volunteers and donations from citizens, corporations and local businesses, SOCO can offer more than 100 events to individuals with intellectual disabilities.

This is the first time the competition will be held on the Western Slope since the games first began in 1969. SOCO says that the State Summer Games is the largest Special Olympics sporting event of the year. 1,100 athletes, 400 volunteers, families, supporters, and sponsors are expected to be in the Grand Junction area for the games.

“We are very excited to host the Colorado Summer Olympics at Colorado Mesa,” CMU President Tim Foster said.

Several different areas of the campus will be used for the games. Aquatics will be held in the El Pomar Natatorium, gymnastics in the Maverick Center Gymnasium, track and field at Stocker Stadium, soccer on the outdoor practice fields and power lifting will be in the Performing Arts Center. The Victory Celebration on Saturday, June 1, will be in the University Center Ballroom.

“The opportunity to share in this event, which is so important to these young athletes, is very gratifying,” Foster said.

Opening Ceremonies for the competition will commence on Saturday, June 1 at 10 a.m. The sporting events will take place throughout Saturday and Sunday and the Victory Celebration will include dancing and fireworks show. All of the competitions and events are free to the public.

“We hope the athletes, their families and friends and all the spectators enjoy visiting CMU and take the time to see all the sites the Grand Valley has to offer,” Foster said.

Mindy Watrous, President and CEO of SOCO expressed her excitement in moving the events to the Western Slope.

“I’m thrilled for our athletes and coaches to have an opportunity to compete in state-of-the-art facilities like the El Pomar Natatorium,” Watrous said. “President Foster and his team have been welcoming from the first conversation, and I’m thrilled that our board of directors endorsed the move to the Western Slope.”

Sponsors for the State Summer Games include Charlie Monfort and John Hopkins. Monfort, the primary partner of the 2013 State Summer Games, is the former CMU chair of the board of trustees and an active member of SOCO. Hopkins is the former CEO of Rocky Mountain Health Plans.

For more information on the events next summer, visit www.SpecialOlympicsCO.org.