KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Special Olympics Missouri will hold most of the 2020 State Summer Games virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers announced Tuesday.
The event, scheduled for June 5-7 in Columbia, will allow athletes to compete from their own homes. More details will be announced on the organization's Facebook page on May 5.
Two sports, volleyball and powerlifting, will move to the State Outdoor Games, set for Sept. 25-27 in Jefferson City. A soccer training and invitational will also be held in the fall at the Training for Life Campus in Jefferson City, Special Olympics Missouri said in a news release.
The decision to hold most of the State Summer Games virtually was made to keep the fall sports schedule intact, Special Olympics Missouri President and CEO Susan Stegeman said in the release.
“If we made the decision to push back Summer Games, that would force us to change our fall sports schedule,” Stegeman said. “Most of our area competitions for fall sports already have dates and venues scheduled. What may seem like a simple change in moving back Summer Games a month or two would create giant waves, affecting all fall competitions.”
The organization had already announced the cancellation of all trainings and events through May 31 due to the coronavirus outbreak.
It’s the second straight year that Special Olympics Missouri will not hold the State Summer Games. Last year, the event was canceled after the organization’s headquarters were damaged by a tornado.
Special Olympics Missouri also canceled its State Indoor Games in March over coronavirus concerns.
