Attendees share disappointment with canceled Special Olympics Games
The State College of Pennsylvania (WTAJ) — Special Olympics of Pennsylvania (SOPA) Summer Games are cancel“grieved” athletes and volunteers.
“This is a really tough blow,” Chief Mission Officer Nate Garland said. “Our hearts are broken when we think of athletes and volunteers.”
The announcement was made shortly after 10am on Thursday, June 8. About 1,700 athletes were scheduled to head to Happy Valley for the competition.
“Last night we got the call that the game was going to be held, so I was excited to get in there and start preparing,” volunteer coordinator Bykem Oskin said. “Some people actually registered and signed in to attend the event. We just found out they were turned down.”
representative SOPA He said the air quality at State College was too dangerous to hold the game.
“Our athletes, many of them have underlying health issues,” Garland said. “Our athletes are experiencing an increased incidence of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity and other diseases that endanger them all.”
Some of the game’s funds are: Paterno Family Beaver Stadium Run. This year’s run raised a record $445,000. Garland said SOPA is currently working with donors to find ways to continue fulfilling the organization’s mission.
“This is our biggest event of the year, but our players compete all year long,” Garland said. “So we didn’t take the chance.”
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Garland said there are no plans to reschedule the match at this time.
“It’s a difficult decision, but it’s an easy decision when it comes to saving people’s lives and not endangering them,” Garland said.
https://www.wtaj.com/news/local-news/heartbreaking-participants-share-disappointment-over-canceled-special-olympics-games/ Attendees share disappointment with canceled Special Olympics Games