Special Olympics Connecticut will host its 2017 Winter Games presented by Eversource Energy at venues in the greater Hartford area on Saturday, March 4th and Sunday, March 5th. Over 900 athletes of all abilities from across the state are expected to participate. To qualify to compete in Winter Games, athletes must complete a minimum of eight weeks training in their sport with their local team.
Events are free and open to the public. Spectators are encouraged to attend. For more information, visit www.soct.org, email specialolypmicsct@soct.org or call 203-230-1201. And, follow Special Olympics Connecticut on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (#SOCTGames).
Winter Games sports, locations and times include:
Cross Country Skiing and Snowshoeing
Location: Eversource, 1985 Blue Hills Avenue Extension (Route 187), Windsor
- Parade of Athletes – 9:45 a.m. (Saturday)
- Opening Ceremonies – 10 a.m. (Saturday)
- Competition – 10:45 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (Saturday); 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (Sunday)
- Awards – 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. (Saturday); 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (Sunday)
Figure Skating and Speed Skating
Location: International Skating Center of Connecticut, 1375 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury
- Opening Ceremonies – 10 a.m. (Saturday)
- Competition for Figure Skating – 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Saturday); 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Sunday)
- Awards for Figure Skating – 1:15 p.m. to 2 p.m. (Sunday)
- Competition for Speed Skating – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Saturday); 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Sunday)
- Awards for Speed Skating – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Sunday)
Unified Floor Hockey and Skills
Location: Pratt & Whitney Hangar, East Hartford
Located off Silver Lane
- Opening Ceremonies – 9 a.m. (Saturday)
- Competition – 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Saturday); 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (Sunday)
- Awards – 12 to 3:30 p.m. (Sunday)
Location: Farmington Valley Gymnastics Center, 5 Northwest Drive, Plainville (Sunday only)
- Opening Ceremonies: 10:30 a.m. (Sunday)
- Competition: 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (Sunday)
- Awards: 1 to 1:30 p.m. (Sunday)
Alpine Skiing and Snowboarding
Location: Powder Ridge Mountain Park & Resort, 99 Powder Hill Road, Middlefield
- Opening Ceremonies – 9:30 a.m.
- Competition – 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Saturday); 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Sunday)
- Awards – 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Saturday); 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Sunday)
Through the Special Olympics Healthy Athletes program, athletes will be offered blood pressure screenings and education on the importance of hydration at the Eversource and Pratt & Whitney venues.
Winter Games weekend is made possible through dedicated volunteers and coaches and the generosity of sponsors. In addition to Eversource, sponsors include Griffin Industrial Realty and Powder Ridge Mountain Park & Resort, Gold Sponsors, and Henkel, MDC, Otis, Pratt & Whiney and SpaceFitters, all Bronze Sponsors. Farmington Valley Gymnastics Center and Olsen Construction are Supporting Sponsors and iHeartRadio Connecticut and NBC Connecticut, Media Sponsors.
About Special Olympics Connecticut
Special Olympics Connecticut provides year-round sports training and competitions for over 13,000 athletes of all ages with intellectual disabilities and Unified Sports® partners - their teammates without disabilities.
Through the joy of sport, the Special Olympics movement transforms lives and communities throughout the state and in 169 countries around the world by promoting good health and fitness and inspiring inclusion and respect for all people, on and off the playing field. (www.soct.org)