Utica University to Host Special Olympics New York Summer Games 2026-2028
"With the support of the community, I know we’re going to make this a weekend to remember for everyone involved."
Special Olympics New York, Utica University and community leaders today announced that the Utica community will host the Special Olympics New York State Summer Games for the next three years.
State Summer Games is the largest statewide competition for athletes with intellectual disabilities. The Games will be offered each June for more than 1,200 athletes and coaches from across the state to compete in six sports: Basketball, Powerlifting, Swimming, Tennis, Track and Field, and Volleyball.
"We are thrilled to be partnering with Utica University and the surrounding communities to give our athletes a first-class State Summer Games where they will go for the gold in their favorite sports, reconnect with friends from all across New York, and meet new volunteers,” says Stacey Hengsterman, President and CEO of Special Olympics New York. “Making this three-year commitment to inclusion is a significant undertaking, and we are so grateful to our partners for their collaboration and support.”
“We’re excited to welcome more than 1,200 Special Olympics athletes and their coaches and families. With the support of the community, I know we’re going to make this a weekend to remember for everyone involved,” says Utica University President Todd Pfannestiel. “This is such a natural fit on so many levels, but in particular, the Special Olympics mission of inclusion and providing opportunity aligns so closely with our own. We’re happy to have the Games back in Utica for three years and hopefully longer, and we cannot wait for next June to be here.”
“We are honored that the Special Olympics New York State Summer Games will be held in Oneida County for the next three years,” says Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. “This is more than a sporting event—it’s a celebration of courage, determination and inclusion. We look forward to welcoming these incredible athletes, their families and supporters and showing them the warmth, pride and spirit that define our community.”
In addition to the sports competitions, State Summer Games also includes a signature Special Olympics Opening Ceremony where participants and the community come together to celebrate inclusion, activities for aspiring young athletes from local elementary schools, a victory dance and a Healthy Athletes event where athletes receive free health screenings in several disciplines such as vision care, dental care, hearing, podiatry, nutrition and mental health.
Utica University will serve as the hub of State Summer Games, with Opening and Closing Ceremonies and most of the sports competitions held on site. The campus will also provide housing and meals for athletes and coaches. Additional venues slated to host State Summer Games events include Hamilton College’s Bristol Pool (swimming), the City of Utica’s Parkway Recreation Center (tennis) and Mohawk Valley Community College’s Jorgensen Athletic and Event Center (volleyball).
“Since we first learned of this opportunity to host, when Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente called me to speak about the possibility, Utica University has been all in on this endeavor,” President Pfannestiel says. “Our team is already hard at work with the Special Olympics staff on all the logistical details that must come together to make the 2026 Summer Games the best ever – and they will be.
“Together with our partners, we promise the state-of-the-art facilities that are worthy of these championship-caliber athletes who are coming to Oneida County to compete. Well before the torch arrives and long after it extinguishes, the Special Olympics – its athletes, coaches, and organizers – will have a welcoming home at Utica University.”
About Special Olympics New York
Special Olympics New York is one of the largest state chapters in the country, serving more than 48,000 athletes across New York with year-round sports training, athletic competition, and health screenings. The organization also partners with more than 340 schools statewide to offer Unified Sports, where students with and without disabilities compete as teammates. All Special Olympics New York programs are offered at no cost to athletes, their families or caregivers. The organization has earned the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.com and a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, making it one of the most trusted charities in the business nationally. For additional information about Special Olympics New York, to learn more about getting involved, or to make a donation, visit www.specialolympicsNY.org.
What They’re Saying
“Special Olympics is known for a lot of things. First and foremost, it’s known for our 48,000 amazing athletes across the state – 2,500 right here in this community. We’re known for how our athletes and coaches inspire inclusion through sport, and we’re also known for our big statewide Games. Our Summer Games are our biggest event, and our new home for our Summer Games is Utica University. The people here have become our biggest fans. They want us here, they have advocated, they have worked hard to get us here, and they have amazing facilities for our athletes. I can’t be more grateful for the very, very warm welcome this community has already given us.” – Stacey Hengsterman, President and CEO of Special Olympics New York
“This is such an exciting day in Oneida County and in the City of Utica. The Special Olympics are not just a sporting event. It’s a real moment that shines a light on some many different things, but most of all, it shines a light on the ability and courage of these athletes, the determination of 1,200 great athletes from across this state. I’ve seen firsthand the power of these Games. They bring together a state in one of the most enjoyable and inspiring events that can be held. These athletes remind us of what it is to never give up, to compete with heart, and to compete at the highest levels that you can.” – Anthony Picente, Oneida County Executive
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