What are the Special Olympics National Summer Games?

August 26, 2024

What are the Special Olympics?

The Special Olympics are a celebration of athletes with learning disabilities and the National Summer Games is the country’s largest sports event for athletes with intellectual disabilities.

Just like any other Games, they are held every four years.

special-olympics-athletics

Taking place over three days, there are 1,700 athletes from England, Scotland and Wales competing in 12 sports that include athletics, artistic gymnastics, football, boccia, badminton, short-mat bowls, golf, rhythmic gymnastics, table tennis, ten-pin bowling, tennis and swimming.

Click here to find out more detail about each of the sports and when they are scheduled.

Where and when

This year is the ninth National Summer Games and will be held in the city of Bath from 28 August to 1 September. As well as the sport to enjoy, there will also be an opening ceremony on Wednesday 28 August at the Royal Crescent.

How can I get tickets?

The events are free to support and watch, but members of the public are asked to head to the Sports Training Village reception at the University of Bath to get a day pass and receive information of where to go to view the sports being held on campus.

Just a little warning, there a are few off-campus venues including the Hengrove Leisure Centre used for the swimming, and Bowlplex used for ten-pin bowling (both in Bristol) which have limited space for general spectators, so it may not always be possible to allow entry for members of the public.

Bath Golf Club is also one of the three off-campus venues, but this has plenty of spectator space. Members of the public are advised to go to the reception area of these venues, where one of the volunteers will guide you to the spectators’ area.

The Special Olympics song

Here is the official song and video for the Special Olympics National Summer Games called “Living Our Dream”, recorded by Clyve.