The 2022 Special Olympics USA Games, presented by Jersey Mike’s Subs, will kick off the Opening Ceremony on Sunday, June 5th at 8am at Exploria Stadium. More than 5,500 Special Olympics athletes, Unified partners and coaches from around the country and the Caribbean are set to arrive in Orlando to compete in the largest USA Games in Special Olympics history. The Opening Ceremony will be the first opportunity for the community to take part in the excitement, goodwill and spirit of the USA Games.
Hosted by journalist and national television personality T.J. Holmes, the one-of-a-kind Opening Ceremony is being produced by Disney Live Entertainment and will include more than 500 performers, plus a special live performance by Grammy Award-winning artist Sara Bareilles. In addition, Special Olympics athlete Shawn Hinz, joined by Disney’s Voices of Liberty, will sing a solo during “America the Beautiful.” ESPN, the global broadcast partner of Special Olympics and the USA Games, will air the Ceremony at noon EST on ABC and on WatchESPN and ESPN the app.
“The 2022 Special Olympics USA Games truly is an incredible opportunity to come together in the spirit of inclusion and to celebrate remarkable ability and teamwork,” said Joe Dzaluk, President and CEO, 2022 Special Olympics USA Games. “The Opening Ceremony is the perfect time to support the USA Games, extraordinary athletes from around the country and our Orlando community as we host the largest USA Games in history. I invite everyone to join us at Exploria Stadium for this once-in-a-lifetime event.”
“I am honored to take part in the Opening Ceremony,” shared Sara Bareilles. “Music unites and inspires, and that is what Special Olympics does every day. To be a part of the USA Games and perform for the athletes and their families as they begin this amazing week is a true gift.”
The 2022 Special Olympics USA Games, presented by Jersey Mike’s Subs, will take place June 5th to June 12th in Orlando, Florida with most of the events taking place at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort.
The USA Games Opening Ceremony will be the event for families, fans, and supporters to take part in the celebration and fun. Tickets are just $55 each and are available online at 2022USAGames.org and Ticketmaster.