Special Olympics Indiana Kicks Off Summer Games
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowSpecial Olympics Indiana has begun its 2017 Summer Games at Indiana State University. Nearly 2,700 athletes, along with 1,100 coaches and 1,500 volunteers will take part in the event, which runs through Sunday.
The athletes will participate in a number of sports, including bocce, bowling, cycling, horseshoes, powerlifting, swimming, track & field, and volleyball. The games are free and open to the public.
"I annually look forward to interacting with the families, volunteers, and athletes, and having the opportunity to be together for a few days and get to know everyone," said Michael Furnish, chief executive officer of Special Olympics Indiana. "Personally, it represents an anchor for me—it represents a really important reminder for why we do what we do."
The organization says one of the main focuses of this year’s event is improving athlete health and fitness. The games will feature screenings and instruction for all participants in areas including vision, dentistry, podiatry, audiology, physical therapy and better health and well-being.
Indianapolis-based The Finish Line Inc. (Nasdaq: FINL) is also providing a free pair of shoes and socks to athletes who participate in at least three of the six health screenings. The company says the offer is in response to a statistic that says as many as half of all Special Olympics athletes may be wearing improper or ill-fitting footwear.
You can learn more about the Summer Games by clicking here.