Weather, planning and preparation came together last week in the 37th annual State Special Olympics Summer Games.

Last Thursday through Saturday, Iowa State welcomed more than 2,600 competitors for the Iowa games. Iowa State will play host next month for the National Special Olympics.

Lana Voga, university chairwoman for the event, was pleased with how the event carried out.

“It went fantastic, from the standpoint that the weather was beautiful and the athletes had a great time,” Voga said. “There were lots of smiles all around.”

Temperate weather greeted the athletes and held up for the three-day event. Competitors in swimming, track and field, 5-on-5 soccer, cycling, tennis, bocce and developmental sports harnessed campus recreational facilities.

It was the 24th straight time the event was held in Ames. The state competition provided a test run for next month’s national games. At least 30,000 spectators and 2,000 coaches are expected to join the competitors and their families at the games, which will be held from July 2 to 7.

There will be at least 3,000 athletes in 13 sports at the National Games.

“People at this university take ownership in this event, as does the Ames community,” said Erin McKeown, event coordinator for Special Olympics Iowa.

Laurie Ertz, event coordinator for bocce, said volunteers came through last weekend and she is hoping they will next month also.

“We had a wonderful group of volunteers from the business community,” Ertz said. “And they said that they would come back, too.”

Ertz is also the executive director of The Arc of Story County, an advocacy group for people with intellectual disabilities. She is expecting the community to be a perfect host for the incoming crowds.

“[The National Games] will just be a wonderful showcase for Iowa State and for Ames, for one,” Ertz said. “I think they picked a great place to host it . Midwesterners have a very welcoming tradition. I know it will be a remarkable event from across the nation.”

She sees many positives coming out of the event.

“I think it will increase awareness for all people with disabilities, not just the Special Olympics. The National Games really gives that opportunity.”

Megan Ziemke, a senior in child, adult and family services, was one of many student workers at the event, coaching track and field last week.

Although “hectic,” Ziemke said the event seemed to go without a hitch. There were more than 2,300 competitors in track and field alone, of whom Ziemke oversaw 100.

“I started [as a coach] because my mom works with children who are disabled, and I was looking for something to do [to volunteer],” Ziemke said. “I love it.”

Ziemke said she is dreading leaving the area next fall.

“I graduate next year, and it’s depressing having to leave [the State Games] and the people I’ve gotten to know here,” Ziemke said. “And having to start somewhere else.”