Governor DeWine Supports Bid to Bring 2030 Special Olympics USA Games to Cleveland

 

Governor DeWine meets with P.J. O’Neil while OOD Director Kevin L. Miller watches. P.J. is a Special Olympics Ohio athlete from Summit County and has been successful in his dietary position at a nursing home for seven years.

Earlier this month, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine joined leaders with Greater Cleveland Sports Commission and Special Olympics Ohio for a ceremony in support of efforts to bring the 2030 Special Olympics USA Games to Cleveland.

 

Cleveland is one of two finalist cities in America vying to land the national event. Members of the Special Olympics Bid Evaluation Committee were in Cleveland to tour potential venues like Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. The home of the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers and AHL’s Cleveland Monsters is a proposed location for the games’ ceremonies and was the site of the ceremony.

 

“Cleveland is the perfect home for the 2030 Special Olympics USA Games, its athletes, families, and fans across the country,” said Governor DeWine. “We are fully committed to bringing a national sporting event with so much heart right here to Ohio, The Heart of it All. This is a great opportunity to showcase the best of our state, in a city that is known for the welcoming spirit of its people and its world-class venues.”

Staff with Accessible Ohio, an Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities (OOD) program, were present at the event, highlighting Ohio's commitment to disability inclusion, making Cleveland a strong candidate for the Games. 

Brianna Seth, Accessible Ohio Specialist; OOD Director Kevin L. Miller; Kristen Ballinger, Deputy Director of the Division of Employer and Innovation Services, and Julie Wood, Accessible Ohio Manager.

Special Olympics USA Games are hosted every four years in major cities across the nation. The eight-day event includes 16+ sports and daily programs focused on athlete and family wellness.

 

The Special Olympics USA 2030 Games would be the largest inclusive sports event in Cleveland’s history. It is expected to draw over 5,500 athletes and coaches from all 50 states, as well as over 100,000 family members and attendees.

 

According to Greater Cleveland Sports Commission—the organization leading Cleveland’s bid—the games would bring an estimated $70 million to the local economy. However, the total impact and legacy of the event would be immeasurable – helping to solidify Ohio’s place as a national leader in celebrating people with disabilities.

 

“Hosting the 2030 Special Olympics USA Games would provide a benefit well beyond the financial impact,” said David Gilbert, President and CEO of Greater Cleveland Sports Commission. “Through the power of sports, the Special Olympics athletes will inspire our community to embrace a broader perspective on human talents and potential. I can’t think of a better legacy than one of inclusion and acceptance.”

 

Leaders and athletes from Special Olympics Ohio were also on hand at the ceremony. The organization provides year-round sports training and competition opportunities for children and adults with disabilities, contributing to their physical, social, and psychological development.

 

“For Special Olympics Ohio, hosting the 2030 USA Games would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, helping us advance our identity as a legitimate sports organization,” said Jessica Stewart, President and Chief Executive Officer of Special Olympics Ohio. “The awareness and understanding of Special Olympics that the community will gain through preparation and hosting would open doors and further our ability to engage more athletes with intellectual disabilities.”

 

Jessica Stewart, President and CEO of Special Olympics Ohio, and OOD Director Kevin L. Miller.

Special Olympics Ohio has over 20,000 athletes representing all 88 counties, as well as 2,000 active volunteers.

 

As further evidence of Ohio’s widespread enthusiasm to welcome the 2030 Special Olympics USA Games, over 12,000 people have already signed up to volunteer at the national games, should they be awarded to Cleveland.

 

Festivities at the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse on February 6 also included a unified health and wellness event. Hosted by Special Olympics Ohio, this event brought together dozens of people with and without disabilities, including Special Olympics Ohio athletes and other students from across the region for an opportunity to learn from one another and have fun. The event included a wide variety of activities from cornhole, to yoga, to a sports psychology station, dental screenings, board games, the Cavs Care Clinic, and more.