by Michelle Mayer | Jun 16, 2025 | Athletes, Families, Healthy Athletes, LETR, Sports, State Tournaments, Statewide, Volunteers
Get ready for an unforgettable weekend of competition and celebration at the 2025 Summer Games! Athletes, families, coaches, and fans will gather in Bloomington-Normal for three inspiring days packed with more than just sports. From health and wellness offerings to family-friendly fun, here’s your guide to everything you won’t want to miss.
Momentum Refresh
Come check out the Momentum Refresh vehicle located in the parking lot at the south end of the ISU track. We are proud to offer this universally designed, ADA-compliant mobile restroom and changing area, bringing a new level of accessibility and inclusivity for all participants, families, and fans.
Healthy Athletes
Athletes may take part in free screenings in Special Smiles, Healthy Hearing, Opening Eyes, and FunFitness on Friday from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM and Saturday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM at CEFCU (Redbird) Arena. Plus, don’t forget to visit the Healthy Habits Station for water refills and healthy living tips, located at the top of the Redbird Ramp.
Illinois Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg
Members of Illinois Law Enforcement Torch Run will conclude the Final Leg of their week-long, intrastate relay, carrying the Flame of Hope to its final destination of Opening Ceremony on Friday. Officers will run from The Shoppes at College Hills to Hancock Stadium starting at 7:30 PM.
Opening Ceremony
This momentous evening will feature the Parade of Athletes, Athlete Oath, special guest speakers, live entertainment, and the famous lighting of the cauldron. The event kicks off at Hancock Stadium at 8:00 PM on Friday. Can’t make it in person? Watch the inspiring ceremony as we live stream the event.
Young Athletes Statewide Culminating Event
Witness the joy of our Young Athletes program as kids ages 2-7 with and without intellectual disabilities participate in a series of obstacles on Friday at 2:00 PM at Hancock Stadium. Pre-event registration is required.
Olympic Town
Open at ISU’s Turner Hall Parking Lot on Saturday from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Olympic Town will offer a variety of family-friendly activities, including carnival games, an LETR dunk tank, live entertainment, a dance party, and more. We encourage everyone to come and take part in this free and fun event.
Families
Special Olympics Illinois celebrates families at Summer Games with activities like Family Registration at Horton Field House, Olympic Town, Grossinger Arena and Normal Community High School. Stop by for event flyers, Fan Zone fun, and a free raffle! Families can also attend the free Family Tailgate Picnic on Friday night from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Pre registration is required.
Victory Dance
Dance the night away on Saturday from 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM in Uptown Normal. Athletes can enjoy the chance to celebrate the weekend’s accomplishments, socialize with old and new friends, and just let loose!
View the Summer Games event website for more. Want to get live event updates? Text “summer” to 844-393-0980.
by Michelle Mayer | Jun 12, 2025 | LETR, State Tournaments, Statewide
Over the next two weeks, thousands of law enforcement officers across Illinois are lacing up their running shoes, not for speed or medals, but for something far greater: to promote inclusion and to celebrate the accomplishments of athletes of all abilities.
The Illinois Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) is officially underway, with more than 3,000 officers carrying the Flame of Hope across 1,500 miles through cities, towns, and neighborhoods.
Countdown to the Cauldron
The excitement will build toward a grand finale on Friday, June 20, when officers run the final leg of the relay at 7:30 PM at The Shoppes at College Hill in Normal. There, they’ll carry the Flame of Hope to Hancock Stadium at Illinois State University for the Opening Ceremony of the Summer Games, lighting the cauldron and officially kicking off the state’s largest competition of the year.
This annual intrastate relay is more than an annual tradition, it’s a powerful show of support for the more than 60,000 athletes, Unified partners, Young Athletes, coaches, volunteers, and families that make up the Special Olympics Illinois community.
A Commitment to Inclusion
For the officers of Illinois LETR, the Torch Run is about more than a run—it’s about fueling the mission. LETR is the largest grassroots fundraiser for Special Olympics Illinois, raising more than $5 million in 2024 alone. The relay offers officers a unique opportunity to connect with athletes and show their support in a public, visible, and meaningful way.
The 2025 Torch Run includes more than 30 individual legs throughout Illinois, with regional runs scheduled across the northern, central, southern, and metro areas of the state. From Rockton to Robinson, from Chicago to Springfield, the Flame of Hope will pass through communities large and small, igniting awareness for a more inclusive future.
Join the Movement at Summer Games
The Torch Run is just the beginning. As the Flame of Hope makes its way to Hancock Stadium, you’re invited to be part of the celebration.
Witness inclusion in action, discover ways to experience the power of Summer Games in Bloomington-Normal from Friday, June 20 through Sunday, June 22.
by lauryn | May 12, 2025 | Mission Focused, State Tournaments, Uncategorized, Volunteers
Each June, Dara DiBenedetto travels from Fort Myers, Florida, to Bloomington-Normal to volunteer at Special Olympics Illinois Summer Games — something she’s done almost every year since 1993.
“I love Summer Games so much, I not only fly to Bloomington and rent a car, but I take a week off work as well,” Dara said. “The five days I take for Summer Games inspire and motivate me for months afterwards.”
Dara first volunteered with Special Olympics Illinois the summer after graduating college. Her parents had already been volunteering for several years, inspired by Dara’s uncle, Dick Strauss, who helped coordinate the swimming competition in the late 1980s.
Her first weekend volunteering, Dara worked at awards with her mom. “I was surly and mopey on the drive down,” she recalled. “But after we completed the set up and the swim meet got underway, there was no way to not be excited, energized, and amazed. High fiving and hugging the athletes as they received their awards was inspiring and uplifting.”
She’s returned almost every year since.
“If you are sad, exhausted, or in a bad mood, there is something about the Summer Games that will get you out of that mojo and put a spring in your step,” Dara shared.
Dara volunteers each year at the swimming venue, and she’s quick to share why it’s her favorite. “Our team is energetic and upbeat, making the venue fun and engaging for volunteers and athletes. We’ve worked together for more than 15 years,” she said. “New team members always end with a smile on their face and a request to return the following year.”
The athletes are what truly make the weekend special, according to Dara. She has seen many of the same swimmers return year after year, growing in skill and confidence. “They are so excited to get to that point,” Dara said, referring to athletes moving up to more advanced events. “And even if an athlete didn’t qualify for Summer Games, they are still all smiles. They’re here to support their team and hang with their friends — which includes the volunteers.”
Some memories stick out more than others, but it’s the bigger picture that keeps Dara coming back. “It’s the smiles, hugs, and knowing that I made people happy that keeps me going. I’d also like to think that the energy and love we give to our teams, parents, and athletes motivates them as well,” she said.
To anyone thinking about volunteering for the first time, Dara says: “Do it. It will change your life.”
She hears it all the time from others — how one volunteer experience stuck with them long after it ended. “Their eyes light up as they tell me about it, and they end with ‘Wow, it was so much fun, I should do it again.’”
“I wouldn’t do this if it weren’t fun, and I didn’t get something out of it myself,” Dara added. “Anyone volunteering will have fun, make memories, and go home with an inner glow that will inspire and motivate for months.”
Learn more or become a volunteer for 2025 Summer Games, happening June 20-22 in Bloomington-Normal.
by lauryn | Mar 12, 2025 | Athletes, Families, Mission Focused, Region K, Sports, State Tournaments, Uncategorized
By Randy Kindred
Eric Baumann lives in the small southern Illinois town of Vienna, which he described this way: “It is 1,400 people or less. It has one stoplight, and the stoplight isn’t really a stoplight. It’s a blinking light.”
That said, Eric and his mother, Kathy Baumann, eagerly shine a light on Special Olympics throughout Illinois. They attend Special Olympics Illinois tournaments and events to provide information to families, answer questions and promote family engagement.
Saturday, they were behind the Families table at Normal Community High School as part of the Special Olympics Illinois State Basketball Tournament.
Eric Baumann, 41, has competed with Special Olympics Illinois since fourth grade. His mother was introduced to the organization at that time and soon grew to love it. She and her son have covered a lot of miles to share its benefits with families new to Special Olympics Illinois.
“Have wheels, will travel,” said Kathy Baumann, who also lives in Vienna. “Special Olympics Illinois Families have some new things on the horizon that they’re trying to do. Some of the outreach is that when new people come in, they have a partner and an established family member who can mentor them through the process. It is a learning process.”
She is quick to tell newcomers how Special Olympics Illinois “have made a tremendous difference in my life and in the life of my child.”
Eric Baumann still competes in “six or seven sports,” his mother said. He lives independently in Vienna and has a job in Carbondale, which is about a 45-minute drive. Eric drives himself to a federal building there and performs custodial work.
In Special Olympics Illinois, he is part of the Athlete Leadership team.
“Physically, he still competes, and that’s a wonderful thing,” Kathy Baumann said. “Leadership wise, he’s been given opportunities to speak, serve on the board of directors, serve on different committees. It’s opened doors for him to be a part of something much bigger than just competition.”
Through the Families network, the Baumanns encourage family members of Special Olympics Illinois athletes to get involved as volunteers, coaches and/or Unified partners. They discuss how important their engagement can be in enhancing the experience of the athletes.
It all means a great deal to Eric Baumann.
“I feel like helping others is my reward and just seeing them succeed is the best part,” he said. “And seeing the athletes grow. It brings joy and camaraderie. You see it all.”
Eric Baumann competes for the Big Muddy Crew, an agency headed by his mother.
“There are about 20 of us. We’re small but mighty,” Kathy said. “He (Eric) has been to Ireland, so I’ve traveled to Ireland. We’ve been to Nebraska, to Louisiana, to Florida, for the Illinois team and delegation and for my team. There are many, many doors if you choose to go through them.
“I think most families will tell you it’s the impact it (Special Olympics Illinois) has made on their child’s life. As a parent of a child with a disability, sometimes you try to even the playing field for them. Here, it’s an equal playing field.”
And, she said, the families network is eager to help.
“Somebody new coming in can reach out to me in southern Illinois and say, ‘Hey, I’d like to know about Special Olympics. What does it entail?’” she said. “I could go to the first practice with them and say here’s what you can expect. It’s really just helping them through that initial, ‘What have I walked into?’ ”
Learn more about the Special Olympics Illinois Families network.
Exciting Debut
The Belvidere BucThunder made its state tournament debut Saturday. The senior division team includes special needs athletes from Belvidere’s two high schools: Belvidere High and Belvidere North.
The BucThunder’s opening game came down to the final second. Belvidere took a 40-38 lead on a basket with 15 seconds left, then saw a shot by the Western DuPage Special Recreation Association (WDSRA) Wildcats bounce off the rim as the buzzer sounded.
“It was very stressful. But they held on and they did amazing,” said BucThunder coach Cori Wesselhoff. “They just show so much excitement and they’re so proud of themselves. They’ve worked very hard to get here.”
Afterward, the teams and the game officials posed for a group photo. Everyone smiled.
True “Winning”
The Weston Bridges Warriors out of Aurora hung on for a 35-32 semifinal win over the Winchester Area Special Olympics AlleyKatz. There was a sigh of relief for the Warriors’ Cameron Fawver, first-year head coach of the senior division team after two as an assistant.
Yet, for Fawver, “winning” is not tied to the final score of a game. It came earlier this season when the parent of a player shared what being on his team has meant.
“They said, ‘My child has had such a hard time making friends and building a community. This basketball team brings that community to their doorstop,’” Fawver said.
“Maybe they’re a little shy or something. This allows them to break out of that comfort zone and meet a whole bunch of people who are in the same boat as them and just want to have a good time.”
Fawver also has benefited.
“No matter what my day is like before I get here, everything stops at those gym doors and all I can focus on is: Is everyone having fun and are we trying our hardest?” he said. “I can stop worrying about my problems for a little bit and just focus on basketball, which I love to do.”
Click to view results and photos from the 2025 State Basketball Tournament.
by Kira Ryan | Feb 17, 2025 | Athletes, Mission Focused, Region B, Region D, Sports, State Tournaments, Uncategorized
Special Olympics Illinois Winter Games is always an unforgettable event.
Throughout three incredible days in Galena, more than 350 athletes from across the state came together to show off their abilities in alpine skiing and snowshoeing at the state-level competition.
Whether racing down the slopes or powering through the snowshoeing course, each participant gave it their all.
Over at Eagle Ridge Resort & Spa, snowshoeing competition was met with fierce competition and cheering fans.
“That’s my buddy racing,” Region D athlete Eric Bell shouted toward his friend and teammate Robert Taylor at the start of his race, a true testament to the bonds formed within this community.
“It was good. It was a nice ride,” Region B athlete Josh LeClaire reflected after his snowshoeing race, embracing the joy of the experience.
Meanwhile, over at alpine skiing, athletes carved their way down the slopes with speed and precision.
Region C athlete Haley Morris proudly declared, “I’m so proud of myself. I did it,” after a gold medal was placed around her neck for her win in the Super G race.
Winter Games saw a different shift in weather every day which added to the excitement of the event.
Tuesday began with no snow in sight, but by Wednesday and Thursday, a thick blanket of fresh snow covered the competition areas, creating ideal conditions for skiing and snowshoeing events.
But despite the day, with snow or without, the February cold was in the air. But for many it wasn’t even a factor. “It’s not cold to me,” one athlete was overheard saying atop Chestnut Mountain.
No matter the weather, no matter the challenge, the athletes showed what it truly means to push limits and embrace the thrill of competition.
Their enthusiasm is what keeps the excitement high and makes Winter Games an unforgettable celebration of determination, friendship, and the true display of inclusion.
View photos and results from 2025 Winter Games.
