'A Journey to Your Heart': Thousands of athletes heading to Terre Haute for Special Olympics (2024)

More than 2,000 athletes from throughout the state will be descending on Terre Haute this weekend for the 55th annual Special Olympics Indiana, an event evoking laughter, pride and celebration.

Happiness Bag Executive Director Jodi Moan said that Special Olympics Vigo County will be represented by 90 athletes and supported by 30 volunteer coaches and chaperones.

“These athletes have been training in their designated sport for the past eight to 10 weeks,” Moan said. Those sports include track & field, bowling, bocce, cycling, power lifting and swimming. Unified volleyball is another event in which some of the other 2,266 athletes will compete.

Most of the athletic battles will be conducted around the Indiana State University campus, with bowling competitions at Vigo Bowl and Terre Haute Bowl and swimming events at the Rose-Hulman Recreation and Aquatics Center.

This year’s theme for the summer games is “A Journey to Your Heart.”

Friday evening’s opening ceremony will follow a day of competition and take place at the Hulman Center, where delegations of athletes and coaches will parade around in a procession, said Joe Frollo, director of marketing and communications for Special Olympics Indiana.

Opening ceremony events include addresses by Terre Haute Mayor Brandon Sakbun and Special Olympics Indiana President and CEO Jeff Mohler, as well as a performance by an acrobatic team and a tribute to former Dodgers pitcher Carl Erskine, a longtime Special Olympics Indiana supporter who died in April.

Doors open at 7 p.m. at Hulman Center, with the ceremony beginning at 8 p.m.

Frollo noted that there will be a Healthy Athletes area in the College of Health and Human Services where athletes can receive free dental, hearing, eye, feet and general health screenings. All athletes and coaches will also receive a commemorative 55th anniversary medal.

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David Kronke can be reached at 812-231-4232 or atdavid.kronke@tribstar.com.