Bloomington-Normal: 3,450 Athletes Descend on Twin Cities for 48th Special Olympics Illinois Summer Games

More than 3,450 athletes with intellectual disabilities arrived in Bloomington-Normal this week for the 48th annual Special Olympics Illinois Summer Games, turning the Twin Cities into the center of a statewide celebration of sport and inclusion.

The games ran Friday through Sunday at venues across Illinois State University and surrounding communities in Normal and Bloomington. Organizers expected 15,000 visitors to travel to McLean County for the weekend, according to 25 News Now.

"It's a way for them to make friends, have teammates, get out on the field, and really have those experiences, the joy of sport that I think is a universal feeling," said Michelle Mayer, senior director of marketing and communications for Special Olympics Illinois.

Seven sports and a new addition

Athletes competed in seven events this year: track and field, swimming, powerlifting, soccer, artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, and unified cornhole. Unified cornhole replaced bocce as a new addition for 2026.

Unified events pair an athlete with an intellectual disability alongside a competitor without one. Mayer said the format is designed to build community ties beyond the playing field.

"Special Olympics Illinois is, of course, about our athletes, but it's about them belonging in the community," Mayer said, according to WGPT.

Athletes bring years of training and personal stakes

Brian McWhorter, 41, of Normal, competed in powerlifting with specific goals for each of his three lifts. He aimed for 380 pounds on the deadlift, 210 pounds on the bench press, and 220 to 230 pounds on squats, according to WGPT.

"I love to see all the people that can achieve their goals, as well as how much they've trained over the years," McWhorter said.

McWhorter also celebrated a personal milestone. His birthday fell on opening day of the games.

Allyson Meyer, 34, from Bloomington, competes in track and field, softball, and bocce year-round. She participated in track at the Summer Games.

"Year after year it's been an honor trying to train to do our best, trying to reach our goals as best we can and to accomplish those for next year," McWhorter said.

Zachary Heartmann, a first-time state qualifier, said he trained all year for his track and field events. He said he wanted to make his family proud and honor the memory of his grandparents, according to 25 News Now.

Sandra Froman, a Special Olympics Athlete Leader, has competed for 42 years. She said she met her husband at one of the games and returns each year to cheer on fellow athletes.

The torch run raises millions

The opening ceremony at Hancock Stadium on Friday featured the lighting of a cauldron by members of the Illinois Law Enforcement Torch Run. Officers ran a total of 1,500 miles to deliver the torch to Bloomington-Normal. The final leg covered 116.3 miles from Gillespie over three days, according to WGPT.

The Torch Run has operated for 40 years and raised $5 million last year for the organization, Mayer said.

What happens next

A team from Illinois will travel to Minneapolis on June 20 to compete at the national Special Olympics games, according to 25 News Now.

The weekend also included community events beyond competition. The Children's Discovery Museum was painted Wednesday. A victory dance took place in Uptown Normal on Saturday night.

Tim Ryan, a Special Olympics Illinois board member and volunteer of over 20 years, said the ancillary events matter as much as the competition.

"They work year round for this event every summer and they put in a lot of hard work. So all the events leading up to it, the events all over the weekend, really just mean the most to the athletes," Ryan said.