Iowa State, which has served as the host site for the Iowa Special Olympics Summer Games since 1984, will welcome athletes, coaches, parents and volunteers back to campus Thursday through Saturday, May 23-25.
An estimated 2,700 athletes from around the state will compete at university venues in bocce, cycling, developmental sports, soccer, tennis, swimming and track and field events. More than 1,400 coaches/chaperones and 2,000 volunteers also will participate.
Other activities include a festival, sports clinics, cheerleading clinic and the healthy athlete program. Iowa State men's basketball player Melvin Ejim will serve as honorary chair of the games, declaring the games open at Thursday's ceremony (7 p.m., Hilton Coliseum).
Numerous recreation facilities across campus will serve as sports venues, including Beyer Hall, Forker Building, Lied Center and the Iowa State Center parking lots. Access to some roads and parking lots will be limited or closed, including:
Road closures
- Beach Road: Closed to through traffic from Lincoln Way to Wallace Road Thursday and Friday (7:30 a.m.-10 p.m. daily) 


- South Fourth Street: Closed from Beach Avenue to just west of entrance to stadium parking lots on Thursday (8 a.m.-5 p.m.) for bike race events. 


Parking lot changes
- Iowa State Center lots, Thursday (12:01 a.m.-5 p.m.): All lots will be closed for bike race events. Commuter parking will move to the stadium parking lots for Thursday and Friday, and CyRide will be routed through lots S3-S8.
- Lot 3 (north side of Beyer Hall), Friday (all day): Open to Lot 3 24-hour Reserve, Special Olympics or handicap permit holders. 


- Lots 57 and 100 (west and south sides of Lied Center), Thursday and Friday (all day): Open to Lot 57 Reserve or Special Olympics permit holders. 


- Lot 50A (west side of Forker Building), Thursday and Friday (all day): Open to Special Olympics or handicap permit holders.
- Richardson Court residence area (all parking stalls), Thursday and Friday (all day): Open to Special Olympics or handicap permit holders.
