May 23, 2022
Contact: Jody Mitori, mitorij@missouri.edu
Special Olympics Missouri’s State Summer Games opened with the parade of athletes on May 20, 2022, at Brewer Fieldhouse. University of Missouri football player Jalani Williams escorted the St. Louis metro area competitors in the parade. Read more about Williams’ summer work with Special Olympics Missouri in University of Missouri President Mun Choi’s blog.
President Choi welcomed Special Olympics Missouri athletes to MU. In addition to the opening ceremonies, Mizzou hosted the Summer Games volleyball, aquatics and powerlifting competitions. Gov. Mike Parson (left); Boone County Presiding Commissioner Dan Atwill (third from right); Miss Kansas City 2022 Nicole Harrington, and Special Olympics Missouri Board of Directors Chair Cathy Bumb were also part of the opening ceremonies.
Hundreds of Special Olympics Missouri athletes attended the opening ceremonies at MizzouRec. The 2022 Summer Games were the first time the competitions had been hosted at MU since 2014. The games brought more than 1,000 athletes and coaches to campus over the weekend.
Corporal Joe Peart from Highway Patrol Troop I (right), a coach for Team Missouri track, carried the torch for the Law Enforcement Torch Run. He was joined by Brett Harper, Special Olympics Missouri’s Outstanding Athlete of the Year.
MU Head Football Coach Eliah Drinkwitz (left), who officially opened the games, talked with Special Olympics Missouri Hall of Fame member Beth Brokamp and Williams (right) after the ceremonies.
From left: President Choi, Coach Drinkwitz and Maurice Gipson, vice chancellor of Inclusion, Diversity and Equity (second from right); met athletes from Team Missouri who will be traveling to Orlando, Florida, to compete in the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games.
