Southern Utah University Hosts Special Olympics Utah Summer Games Kick Off
Published: May 30, 2025 | Author: Brooke Heath | Read Time: 2 minutes
The spirit of competition and inclusion takes center stage as Southern Utah University (SUU) proudly welcomes athletes and fans to Cedar City for the Special Olympics Utah Summer Games. May 29 through May 31 will mark the first of a three-year collaboration, establishing the Special Olympics Utah Summer Games as a signature event on SUU’s summer calendar, followed by the Larry H. Miller Utah Summer Games’ (USG) events throughout June.
Special Olympics Utah’s Summer Games is the organization's largest state-level competition, and is anticipated to bring over 600 athletes and unified partners from across Utah to compete in track & field, soccer, swimming, and other activities on SUU’s campus. The schedule of events can be found on Special Olympics Utah's website.
"It's an honor to welcome Special Olympics Utah to Southern Utah University," said SUU President Mindy Benson. "SUU and the Utah Summer Games are committed to providing a world-class experience for all athletes and participants. These Games underscore the true joy of sports and the profound connections we build together."
Further reinforcing this commitment, the Larry H. Miller Utah Summer Games 5K/10K race, scheduled for Saturday, May 31, has partnered with the ShowUp Foundation - an initiative spearheaded by Utah First Lady Abby Cox. This event will serve as both an official USG event and a dedicated fundraiser for Special Olympics Utah, with a portion of each racer’s entry directly funding Special Olympics programming in the southern part of the state.
"We are so excited to bring more Special Olympics programming to southern Utah and look forward to partnering with the Larry H. Miller Utah Summer Games to make that a reality,” said Utah First Lady Abby Cox.“ We hope to make this year’s 5K/10K event the biggest one yet, ensuring that every Special Olympics athlete has access to opportunities to compete."
In addition to the races, all USG competitors and the community are invited to a free pancake breakfast, courtesy of State Bank of Southern Utah, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the J.L. Sorenson PE Building on the SUU campus. This celebratory event will feature food, games, and other activities, along with the presentation of medals to winners of the 5K/10K event by Special Olympics Utah athletes.
"It is a privilege to work with Utah First Lady Abby Cox and her team at Show Up to raise dollars for Special Olympics Utah through our 5K/10K event," said Jon Oglesby, Executive Director of the Larry H. Miller Utah Summer Games." We are also so appreciative of our partners in law enforcement who will allow this race to be run down SR-14 in one of the state’s premiere 5K/10K courses, finishing on the SUU campus with the State Bank of Southern Utah Pancake Breakfast.
Information on the races, including the course maps for both the 5K and 10K, can be found at UtahSummerGames.org
Tags: Utah Summer Games Community
Contact Information:
Brooke Heath
435-586-5400
brookeheath1@suu.edu