Special Olympics Wyoming Needs Volunteers for Laramie Games

Over 900 athletes, coaches and partners from across Wyoming will be in Laramie next month for the 2016 Special Olympics Wyoming Summer Games, and organizers are seeking volunteers to help make the games successful.

Tammy Aumiller, a local volunteer coordinator, says roughly 100-200 volunteers will be needed to assist with basketball, power lifting, track and field, and swimming and diving while the Games are in Laramie May 19-21, but volunteers are not required to work the entire event.

“Whatever they can put in,” says Aumiller.  “If they can only put in an hour, that’s ok, but if they’re able to put in more time that’s fantastic.”

Bill Junge, vice president of development with Special Olympics Wyoming, says volunteers need no particular skill set to help with athletic events, registration activities, medal ceremonies and the Friday evening victory banquet.

“The good attitude and being ready to help is really what we’re looking for,” says Junge.

Junge says the Games will begin the afternoon of Thursday, May 19 with power lifting and some basketball. More basketball will fill Friday morning, followed by track and field as well as swimming and diving events Friday afternoon. The Games will conclude Saturday morning as track and field events wrap up along with swimming and diving.

Competition will finish about 1 p.m. Saturday so those who traveled to Laramie from across Wyoming can begin the trip home.

Competition will be held in several venues across Laramie including the University of Wyoming Field House, the Rochelle Athletics Center, the UniWyo Sports Complex, Laramie High School, the Laramie Plains Civic Center and the Laramie Recreation Center.

The celebration banquet and dance will be hosted Friday night at the Laramie Ice and Events Center.

For more information or to volunteer, contact Tammy Aumiller at 307-721-0103 or taumiller@acsd1.org.