Dutchess County Wants to Host Special Olympics

POUGHKEEPSIE – Dutchess County has submitted a formal application to Special Olympics New York, to host the 2019 and 2020 Special Olympic New York State Summer Games.

Dutchess was the winning site and hosted the 2016 and 2017 Special Olympics New York State Winter Games with much success and had one of the largest volunteer turnouts in the Games’ history.

Special Olympics is an Olympic-style athletic training and competition program for individuals with intellectual disabilities. The Special Olympic New York State Summer Games have been at the forefront of the State events and they culminate months of training and competition by athletes.

State summer games will include a number of sports. Swimming, track and field, basketball, bowling, gymnastics, powerlifting, tennis, and volleyball sporting competitions will be held.

Dutchess County Executive Marcus J. Molinaro said, “Dutchess County is proud to ‘ThinkDIFFERENTLY.’ Having set volunteer records when we hosted the 2016 and 2017 Special Olympics New York State Winter Games, we are eager to again show that spirit of community by hosting the Special Olympics New York State Summer Games in 2019 and 2020. Local individuals, civic groups and businesses are proud to welcome athletes, coaches and families back to share and celebrate their competitive spirit, individual accomplishments and proudly exclaim, Dutchess County knows how to ‘ThinkDIFFERENTLY.’”

The region’s reputation hosting the Winter Games in 2016-17 and the high caliber of the area’s sports facilities make Dutchess County a desirable place to host the games.

“After having an incredible experience hosting the 2016 and 2017 Special Olympics New York Winter Games we are thrilled to offer our home, Dutchess County, as the host for the 2019 and 2020 Summer Games. The Games’ Organizing Committee, businesses and community are ready to welcome and create a memorable experience for the athletes that they cannot receive anywhere else!” noted Frank Castella, Jr., President and CEO of the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce. He has agreed to serve as the Committee Co-Chair once again with Mary Kay Vrba, President and CEO of Dutchess Tourism, Inc.

The Special Olympics New York State Summer Games are expected to involve more than 1,000 athletes and 500 coaches from across the state. If Dutchess County is awarded the bid, at least 1,500 volunteers from the community will be sought each year to share in the powerful experience of being involved in a Special Olympics New York event.

Dutchess Tourism, Inc. President & CEO Mary Kay Vrba said, “Hosting the summer games has been on our minds ever since the winter games ended. It really requires a community effort in order for it to succeed, and Dutchess has demonstrated we can do that. From our partners in the hospitality industry that ensured first-rate, secure lodging, to the record number of volunteers cheering on the athletes, we all worked hard to made the games a successful and unforgettable competition for the participants,” she concluded, and she is once again ready to reprise her role as Committee co-chair.

Special Olympics New York serve more than 68,000 athletes, supported by 5,000 coaches and more than 30,000 volunteers. Special Olympics New York is the largest program in North America and the 6th largest program in the world.