The Special Olympics USA Games will be held next year and more than 3,000 athletes are expected to take part in the competition.
It’ll be held June 20-26 in Minneapolis and Blaine, Minnesota, and the athletes from Missouri will be getting special support from Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Mahomes’ 15 and the Mahomies foundation announced a partnership with Special Olympics Missouri (SOMO) to help athletes participating in the USA Games.
“Special Olympics Missouri’s mission aligns with the mission of my foundation; we have provided grants for SOMO and its programs for the past five years,” Mahomes said in a news release. “With the USA Games coming up, we wanted to help eliminate the financial barriers.
“We asked for the three greatest needs SOMO was facing. Travel and lodging are at the top of the list, so that is the area we are addressing.”
The USA Games will feature 16 Special Olympics team and individual sports, and athletes from all 50 states are expected to take part.
“Patrick is a true role model,” Special Olympics Missouri senior director of program Lukas Lamb said in a news release. “His dedication and excellence inspire our athletes to dream big and continue to push toward greatness.”
Mahomes hopes people will donate to the Special Olympics.
“These athletes are training to compete at the highest level and represent Missouri on the national stage,” Mahomes said in the release. “I encourage everyone to help support and position them to realize their dreams. Let us remove any financial obstacles and allow them to focus on the competition. These athletes are my heroes, and they impress me with their resilience to push through challenges to compete. Let’s get behind them.”