TOSSING RINGERS
Special Olympics Summer Games horseshoes tourney brings out community members
Multiple athletes competed in the horseshoes tournament as a part of the 2022 Special Olympics Michigan State Summer Games.
Special Olympics Michigan Inc. (SOMI) provides year-round sports training and athletic competition to over 23,000 children and adults with intellectual disabilities and Unified partners (athletes without intellectual disabilities).
This year, after a couple years of predominantly virtual competitions, the Summer Games took place in-person from June 1-3 at CMU campus. The Games includes a wide variety different athletic events that athletes of can participate in.
“It’s our first day back in two years and we’ve ended up with more athletes than we anticipated,” Horseshoes Coordinator Judy Chandler said.
The lawn game horseshoes is one of the many competitive events available during the Summer Games. The event took place south of the Rose Tennis Courts next to the Student Activity Center on Thursday.
Male and female competitors could compete in different singles and doubles matches during the event. Depending on the movement capabilities of the athletes, the competitors are allowed to throw the horseshoes at different distances.
“The event has only one movement and many participate in it because it’s not as complex as other events and they can do it,” Chandler said.
Around 50 to 60 athletes competed in the event. Many more athletic events will be going on for the duration of the State Games
Following the State Summer Games, a delegation of more than 60 athletes, coaches, and staff members will depart for Orlando, Florida to represent Michigan at the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games.
For more information on other State Games events, visit somi.org/2022-summer-gamesschedule.