The 2022 Special Olympics USA Games Organizing Committee unveiled its logo for the 2022 USA Games during a celebration ceremony at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort.
- For the first time in the history of the games, the logo was inspired and designed by nine artistic and talented Special Olympics athletes.
- Those nine athletes were in attendance for the reveal event at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Those athletes include:
- Aarushi Pratap (Fashion Design, Tampa, Fla.)
- Andrew Weatherly (Abstract Painting, Closter, N.J.)
- Caroline Shin (Web Design, Tallahassee, Fla.)
- Coby Fineran (Drawing, Manning, Iowa)
- Haley Waggoner (Cake Decorating, Lincoln, Neb.)
- Lee Savage (Drawing, Lake Worth, Fla.)
- Mariah Gilbert (Drawing, Spokane, Wash.)
- Marta Páramo (Painting, Miami, Fla.)
- Patrice Jetter (Graphic Design, Hamilton, N.J.)
- Academy Award-winning director Rayka Zehtabchi directed a mini documentary that was filmed during the Unified Logo Workshop, which debuted during the reveal event.
- As announced back in May, Walt Disney World Resort will be the host for the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games, offering its 220-acre ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex as the premier venue for the USA Games.
- The use of the sports complex is one part of Disney’s multi-faceted support of the Special Olympics movement and the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games, which also includes additional sponsorship and in-kind support for the USA Games, Presenting Partner for the Volunteer Program and ESPN’s role as the Global Presenting Sponsor of Special Olympics Unified Sports.
- The Organizing Committee also announced Jersey Mike’s Subs as Presenting Partner for the games with Orlando Health and Orange County have committed as Platinum Partners as well.
- Taking place from June 5 through June 11, the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games will feature more than 4,000 athletes, 10,000 volunteers, 1,500 coaches, and 125,000 fans from all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
- The Games will be comprised of as many as 16 Olympic-type team and individual sports, and as many as five demonstration sports.
What they’re saying:
- Rena Langley, Senior Vice President, Walt Disney World Public Affairs and Communications: “Special Olympics athletes provide inspiration to millions of people around the world. Competing at this level is an incredible achievement, one that requires tremendous commitment, dedication and leadership skills. As the presenting partner of the volunteer program, we’re honored and proud to support the friends, families and fans that will be here cheering on the athletes, and we’re excited to host the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort.”
- Joe Dzaluk, President & CEO of the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games: “This logo tells a story of how a combined passion for sports, perseverance and art can literally come to life on a blank canvas. These incredible athletes used their unique talents to inspire and design an iconic image for the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games brand, and it proved to be more meaningful than any of us could have ever imagined.”
- Special Olympics athlete Lee Savage: “It is an honor to be part of the team that created the logo. This was so important to us because Special Olympics is such an important part of our lives. We are proud of the logo and hope it can be an inspiration to society.”