This weekend, June 11 and 12, is Special Olympics Southern California’s Summer Games! As an intern, I’ve been working hard to help prepare for these Games. Over 1,100 athletes from all over Southern California are coming to California University Long Beach to compete in Aquatics, Athletics, Basketball, Bocce, Golf, and Gymnastics. Here’s a little about what to expect at the Games.

Aquatics

I’ve seen Special Olympics Aquatics once at the Special Olympics New York Fieldston Aquatics and Basketball Invitational in April, and it was really fun to watch! Athletes can compete in Freestyle, Backstroke, Breaststroke, and Butterfly along with the Individual Medley (IM) and Freestyle and Medley relays. The Southern California Games will be different from anything I’ve seen because the pool’s outside!

Athletics

Always exciting to watch, Athletics is comprised of race walking, long jump, shot put, softball throw, standing long jump, wheelchair races, and various track events like the 100 meter run. Here are some photos of Athletics from last year’s Metro Tournament.

Basketball

Depending on skill level, Special Olympics athletes can play basketball on teams or compete in individual skills competitions. The individual skills competitions include target pass, ten-meter dribble, and spot shot.

Bocce

I’ve never watched Bocce at a Special Olympics competition. It would definitely be a very exciting sport to watch because of the intense strategy needed. The Special Olympians who are competing in Bocce this weekend will compete in teams of four, and each team’s goal is to get as many of their balls closer to the smallest ball (the pallina) than the opposing team’s closest ball.

Golf 

Athletes compete in Individual Skills, Unified Golf (the athlete is partnered with an athlete without disabilities), Nine Holes, or 18 Holes. I’ve never watched this at a Special Olympics competition either, but I would like to.

Gymnastics

Just like the Olympics, Special Olympics athletes can compete in Rhythmic or Artistic Gymnastics. Rhythmic Gymnastics is where athletes perform using a ball, hoop, clubs, ribbon, or a rope. Artistic Gymnastics includes Floor Exercise, Pommel Horse, Rings, Vaulting, Parallel Bars, and Horizontal Bar for the men, and women compete in Floor Exercise, Vaulting, Uneven Bars, and Balance Beam. I was able to watch a little of the Rhythmic and Artistic Gymnastics at World Games last year, so I’m really excited to watch them at the Summer Games! I’m stationed here this weekend.

I hope now you’re as excited about the Summer Games as I am!

Additionally, happy birthday to my blog! The Olympics of Blogs turns 1 today!