Athletes, families, officials and spectators will descend on Ames in early July for the first Special Olympics USA National Games.

“I think there were a number of reasons [that Ames was chosen],” said Rich Fellingham, president and CEO of Special Olympics Iowa. “One is the success we’ve had in hosting the state games in Ames. Another is the facilities and our ability to generate volunteers and raise money.”

The games will be held from July 2 to 7. Fellingham said he expects 3,500 athletes to compete, bringing with them 12,000 family members and up to 30,000 spectators.

Fellingham said to run this event correctly, 8,000 volunteers will be needed to work alongside 1,200 coaches and officials.

The last two-and-a-half years have been spent raising money to accommodate the magnitude of the games. Fellingham said he has a $9 million budget and will continue to raise money until the event starts.

“It’s going to be a community-wide effort and we are looking forward to next July when it all comes together,” he said.

Several people on campus will be helping Fellingham make the games run as smoothly as possible.

Warren Madden, vice president for business and finance, said the games would benefit both the university and the city because of the national attention the event would receive.

“It’s an opportunity for the university to participate in an event that is generally viewed as positive,” he said.

ISU Dining’s possible outsourcing is on the radar for the games. Madden said all of the companies competing for the dining contract have been made aware of the situation, and some of the companies have actually worked with the Special Olympics in the past.

“This is definitely one of the coordinating issues that would have to be resolved,” he said.

Volunteers will be staying at a wide range of places during the event, according to the Special Olympics Web site.

“All of the athletes and coaches will stay in dorms,” Fellingham said.

Pete Englin, director for the Department of Residence, said most of the residence halls have been reserved for the athletes and their chaperones. Buchanan Hall is the only hall in use for summer school students, he said.

“We are very committed to helping and staying involved in the games,” Englin said.

Englin said the Wallace-Wilson Commons would serve as the volunteer coordinating center.

Michael Harvey, recreation services director, said facilities would continue to stay open for student use, except for areas designated for competition.

Harvey said these areas include the Beyer Hall pool, Lied Recreation Athletic Center, the Forker Building volleyball and outdoor tennis courts and the Maple-Willow-Larch intramural fields.

According to the Special Olympics National Games Web site, other venues on campus would include Stephens Auditorium and the ISU Soccer Complex.

Anyone who wants to volunteer can register online at www.2006nationalgames.org.