Harding University to host Special Olympics Arkansas summer games
Harding University will host the Special Olympics
Arkansas summer games May 21-23, celebrating its 15th year to have the
event on campus.
Opening ceremonies kick off at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 21, and
activities last through the closing ceremonies at 1 p.m. on Saturday,
May 23. Events include aquatics, bocce ball, power lifting, softball,
golf, track and field athletics, and wheel chair competitions.
The University expects 6,000 people on campus for the event and is
already preparing for their arrival. Aramark Facility Services will
deliver and pick up hundreds of chairs, tables and dumpsters, and
clean and prepare dorms where coaches and athletes will be housed.
Meals will be provided in the American Heritage Center Cafeteria, and
Aramark Classic Fare Catering will deliver more than 3,000 box lunches
to athletes.
Harding’s physical resources department will begin building the main
event stage and setting up electrical wiring throughout the Special
Olympics site at First Security Stadium a few days before the games
begin.
Several organizations and businesses are also helping with this year’s
event, including Searcy Police and Fire Departments, North Star EMS,
Rideout Lumber, Sunshine School, Wal-Mart Stores and Distribution
Center, Crain Media, the Daily Citizen, Searcy Living, City of Searcy,
Arkansas State Police, and M&M Cycles and Honda, along with volunteers
throughout the community.
