Contact:
Wendy Bigham
Senior Public Relations Manager
Special Olympics Georgia
wendy.bigham@specialolympicsga.org
Ph: 770-414-9390 ext.117
Fax: 770-216-8339
Special Olympics Georgia State Fall Games and State Horse Show Coming to Hall County
Atlanta – Oct. 6 – Two Special Olympics Georgia State Games will be held in Gainesville and Hall County this weekend: the State Fall Games and the State Horse Show.
Nearly 2,100 athletes and unified partners will travel to Gainesville for the State Fall Games to compete in bocce, cycling, golf, and softball. Approximately 277 athletes and unified partners will try to be the state’s best in equestrian competition at the State Horse Show.
This is the first of three years that State Fall Games, presented by Mattel, will be in the Gainesville area. Competition will be Friday, Saturday and Sunday with medals being awarded throughout the weekend. Venues will be located at North Hall Park, Laurel Park and Chicopee Woods Golf Course.
This is the second year Chicopee Woods Agricultural Center in Gainesville has hosted the State Horse Show, presented by the Hall County Farm Bureau. Athletes will compete in showmanship, dressage, English and Western riding, and riding trails.
In addition to athletic competition, there will also be Olympic Town Saturday from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. inside North Hall Park at State Fall Games where athletes can enjoy games, crafts, snacks and more. Athletes will have their balance, strength, and flexibility measured by physical therapists for free. There will also be a Young Athletes demonstration at Olympic Town for any children ages 2-7 with and without intellectual disabilities. Here, children will go through quick stations that teach sports skills, prepare these Young Athletes for future competition, and encourage cognitive and motor development.
Olympic Town at the State Horse Show will be Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. in the Activity Hall of the agricultural center and will also feature arts and crafts.
The games are free and open to the public.
If you would like to be a volunteer at either Games, contact
whitney.warren@specialolympicsga.org or if you would like to make a donation to Fall Games, contact Thomas.Ritch@specialolympicsga.org and for the Horse Show, contact. or more information about the games and for a schedule, visit www.specialolympicsga.org.
Special Olympics Georgia (SOGA)
SOGA provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for 26,702 children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in the sharing of gifts, skills, and friendships with their families, other Special Olympic athletes and the community.
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