It was a beautiful evening at Huntington Bank Stadium. The 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, hosted at the University of Minnesota and the National Sports Center, have just concluded. The Closing Ceremony was a celebration of athletes, volunteers, and fans alike who came together to promote inclusion and show the power of sport. The loud cheers from the crowd illustrated the excitement of what was at hand. Special Olympics Minnesota athlete Xavier Shaw said, “It’s extraordinary and exhilarating, and I’m proud of our home state right now—how we did and showcased who we are.”
Throughout the week, records were broken, and new standards were set. Special Olympics Michigan athlete Aspen Avery earned gold in the 50m butterfly, with a time of 28.13 seconds. And Special Olympics Kansas athlete Marquel Russell broke two national records. In the first event, he shattered the record for the long jump, jumping 5.71m. The second record he broke was the 100m sprint, where he ran a sub-12-second race, finishing in 11.87 seconds.
Newly appointed Special Olympics President and CEO David Evangelista attended his first USA Games. In just a short amount of time, he was able to see the power of this event and said, “This has been one of the best Games I've been a part of in a very, very long time. And I'm thrilled, pleased, excited, and impressed—all of those things.”
The cauldron was extinguished. The Special Olympics flag was handed to the next host. Cleveland, Ohio, will host the 2030 Special Olympics USA Games, having the opportunity to make an impact and remind people why we do what we do. As we stood up and reflected on our successes and triumphs, the theme, Calling All Champions, showed us what truly mattered in the end and how powerful athletes truly are.
Evangelista went on to say, “We're just better people when we're here. That's why everyone's so sad. Everyone's like, ‘Oh, I can't believe it's ending tonight.’ Because underneath that is this feeling of, ‘Oh, man, I have to go back to something that's not as good as this.’ That's pretty powerful.”
The Law Enforcement Torch Run® Final Leg carried the Flame of Hope out of the stadium. It represented a promise that every athlete belonged, every athlete deserved dignity and respect, and every person here was part of something bigger than themselves. The competition reminded us that the Games were not only about what happens on the field of play, but also about the importance of inclusion. It showed us that when we come together, anything is possible.
We celebrated not an ending, but the everlasting spirit that these Games ignited across all delegations. Now, Special Olympics Ohio carries the torch, along with the courage, determination, and unity shown by every athlete throughout this unforgettable week.
