Special Olympic Ontario Spring Games coming to Waterloo Region in 2024

Let the games begin! Next May, the region will be hosting the Special Olympics Ontario Spring Games. It will bring over 2,500 athletes, coaches, staff and spectators to the region.

Since 1996 police services throughout Ontario have been hosting Special Olympics Ontario Provincial Games.

Waterloo Region was scheduled to host the games in 2020 but they were postponed due to COVID-19 and pandemic restrictions.

Thanks to Waterloo Regional Police Services partnering with Special Olympics Ontario, the games will be coming back to the region in 2024.

“Were so proud to have the opportunity to host many exceptional athletes, their families, coaches and all the volunteers, supporters and spectators who will be joining us for this event in May, 2024,” said Mark Crowell, chief of police during an announcement Tuesday afternoon.

“This community event is abut offering invaluable experiences and contributions to the lives of the athletes that extend well beyond sports events,” added Crowell.

Over 700 athletes will be competing in the upcoming games, 35 of those are from Waterloo Region.

Marley Gayler from Kitchener will be competing in the games as a power lifter. She has been training for competitions for over 13 years.

“To go to tournaments and Special Olympics makes me happy. In 2020 the games got postponed and that was hard but now I’m super excited for May and having the Olympics in my hometown,” said Gayler.

Cooper Moore from Cambridge has been competing in swimming competitions for over 10 years. He’s excited for the region to come out and support Special Olympic athletes like himself.

“We want to get our butts out there and show what we are made of,” said Moore.

Athletes like Moore and Gayler will be competing in a variety of sports like basketball, swimming, powerlifting, rhythmic gymnastics and 10-pin bowling.

The games will take place from May 23 to May 26, 2024.

For more information visit www.specialolympicsontario.com.