Opening ceremonies kick off at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 20, and activities last through closing ceremonies at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 22.
Events include aquatics, bocce ball, power lifting, softball, flag football, golf, track and field athletics, and wheel chair competitions.
The University expects approximately 6,000 people on campus for the event and is already preparing for their arrival. Aramark Facility Services will deliver and pick up hundreds of chairs, tables and dumpsters, and clean and prepare dorms where coaches and athletes will be housed. Meals will be provided in the American Heritage Center Cafeteria, and Aramark Classic Fare Catering will deliver box lunches to athletes.
Harding’s physical resources department will revamp the entire south end of campus, building the main event stage and setting up electrical wiring throughout the Special Olympics site at First Security Stadium a few days before the games begin.
Several area organizations and business are donating their time and resources to help with this year’s event as well.
Motorcyclists from all over the state will gather in El Paso and Searcy this month to ride in support of Special Olympics and to raise funds. In addition, the Law Enforcement Torch Run begins May 13 with runners from Texarkana, Fayetteville, Fort Smith and Jonesboro meeting up in Little Rock May 20. They will then run to Searcy for the opening ceremonies at Harding.
For more information, visit
— Harding University will host the Special Olympics Arkansas summer games May 20-22, celebrating 16 consecutive years having the event on campus.www.specialolympicsarkansas.org.
