State Summer Games, Special Olympics Michigan Returns to In-Person Competition

The Special Olympics Michigan is back as opening ceremonies for the 53rd State Summer Games were held in Mount Pleasant today.

Athletes and spectators gathered at Kelly/Shorts Stadium on the campus of Central Michigan University for the arrival of the Flame of Hope. SOMI organizer Lourin Sprenger has been waiting for since 2019.

“Our whole theme for these three days is celebrate together. Because we’re back together in person after three years,” Sprenger smiles.

The Flame of Hope is carried by Law Enforcement and Special Olympic athletes from all around the state. Mount Pleasant Police Officer Josh Theisen along with athlete Tyler Lawton were honored with lighting the cauldron Thursday night. Officer Theisen says the experience is an honor, but admits he’s kind of nervous.

“I’m absolutely nervous, that’s a lot of steps. I’m going to be the one to trip and fall up the stairs,” Officer Theisen laughs. “Honestly, it’s such a cool feeling being a part of it.”

Now with the cauldron lit the games have officially begun. The games will wrap up Saturday, June 3, with 60 athletes, coaches and staff heading to Orlando, Florida to represent Michigan in the USA Games.

Organizers say this year only featured a fraction of the athletes they normally have. Only 1,200 athletes are competing this year, less than half of the upwards to 6,000 athletes they normally have. They say they want to keep the athletes safe.

“Our athletes have been so patient, they’ve been leading by example,” Sprenger says.

Tyler Lawton is a special olympics veteran. He’s been competing in the Special Olympics for the last 20 years, he says the wait has been tough, but he’s glad it’s finally over.

“When COVID hit it was kind of devastating honestly because we’re missing a lot of athletes. A lot of the athletes look forward to opening games, we look forward to opening ceremonies,” Lawton explains.

Lawton is heading to Orlando Saturday to represent Michigan in the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games. He thanks his trainers from Ferris State University for helping him prepare for the games. He says he and his fellow competitors are excited to finally be back.

“Absolutely exciting because it show that athletes, they don’t care about losing or winning. We want to compete at the highest level and any competition is better than no competition at all. It’s about everybody come together as unified and one,” Lawton states.