Home-pool advantage.

That’s what the Ames High School Special Olympic athletes will enjoy this Friday when they compete in the 37th annual State Summer Games.

More than 2,600 Special Olympics athletes from around the state will arrive in Ames for the annual event, which begins Thursday and runs through Saturday.

The campus will host competitions in swimming, track and field, 5-on-5 soccer, cycling, tennis, bocce and developmental sports, with each event providing athletes of varying ages and ability a chance to participate.

The games have taken place in Ames for the past 23 years.

“It’s a good thing for Ames and keeps the town busy during the summer,” said Scott Coleman, senior in computer engineering. He is helping to prepare for the National Special Olympics, which Ames will host July 2 to 8.

Pam Wagner, vice president of games and competition for Special Olympics Iowa, said the State Summer Games have benefited from the exposure the ensuing National Games has brought to the organization.

“Many more volunteers want to be involved in our games due to the publicity surrounding the National Special Olympics,” Wagner said.

She added this had helped them to plan better state games overall.

“We will be fancier with awards areas than we normally have done,” she said. Wagner also anticipated using some of the new equipment they’ve received for the July games.

J. Elaine Hieber, director of sports and competition for the 2006 Special Olympics, said the organization uses the Summer Games mainly as a trial in terms of what works for the “procedures, equipment set-up and staffing [needed] for the National Games.”

Hillary Zieblod, coach of the Ames High School Special Olympic swimmers, will be one of the estimated 1,200 coaches at this year’s state summer games.

Her biggest challenges have been teaching more physically handicapped students how to adapt their strokes to swimming.

Sometimes, it can also be as simple as “getting them in and out of the water,” she said.

At a recent school awards assembly, the Special Olympic athletes from Ames High school were recognized. She said historically the athletes have always received a “very warm reception and the longest applause of anybody for their achievements.”

The organizers expect 2,000 volunteers to help with the State Summer Games. Gary Draper, sophomore in animal science, will be volunteering for the Special Olympics.

“I’m going to be helping out with the track-and-field events – handing out water and prepping student athletes to get where they need to be when they get the awards,” he said.

Draper said he chose to volunteer for the Special Olympics because of the movie “The Ringer.”

“That movie showed me there are people who actually inspire others as they still compete at a high level,” he said.

Doug Arrowsmith, coordinator of facility operations for ISU Recreation Services, said the events won’t have a big impact on availability for students working out at the Lied Recreation Center, where many of the events will take place.

“The third floor will be open throughout the events for students to run or lift weights,” he said.