It's a crisp, sun-kissed sky in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Just past the plaza entrance of Huntington Bank Stadium, the city skyline sits perfectly in the end zone corner. The roar of athletes representing Programs across the Special Olympics North America region can be heard throughout Opening Ceremony. Athletes have come together to compete, celebrate the power of inclusion, and enjoy everything Special Olympics stands for. The newly appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Special Olympics, David Evangelista, is amongst the crowd and says, “It means unity, energy, love, and it means many things,” when speaking on the night's festivities.
The atmosphere is electric, with each state cheering for its athletes. The stadium is filled with bright and powerful uniforms from the different delegations. Marlana VanHoose sang a strong version of the national anthem, followed by an incredible performance from Demi Lovato. During her version of Skyscraper, athletes sang along, interlocking their arms and showing emotions. Special Olympics International Chairman Timothy Shriver cheered with the crowd and rallied everyone together.
This year’s Games include 16 sports and feature 3,000 athletes, 1,500 coaches, and 10,000 volunteers, along with more than 75,000 fans from across the country. “This is my first time going,” Adam Williams, a Special Olympics athlete representing Special Olympics Northern California, says with excitement.
There is no explanation needed to show how excited everyone is, especially Evangelista.
Only having held the position for five months, Evangelista mentioned that this is his first-ever Special Olympics USA Games. “The Opening Ceremony is a great display of human dignity and a great display of celebration, and when you think about it, 3,000 athletes from across the country come here, overcome countless odds, and countless challenges,” he says. “They come here, and they have a dream, and they are going to realize that they are being brave in the attempt. I just think that this is galvanizing for the human connection and awesomeness. Nothing else can tell me how excited I am.”
This event is much more than sports. It’s a display of what real inclusion is. The next week will challenge athletes through their strength, speed, and determination, whether it’s how much they can lift, how fast they can swim, or how quickly they can run, but in the end, it’s just to have fun.
The Special Olympics USA Games flag gets escorted in, and the official oath is spoken. The Coach Oath is next, closed out by the Athlete Oath. Let the Games begin, the cauldron is lit.
