More than 3,500 athletes, plus their friends, relatives and fans, will descend on the ISU campus today in the name of athleticism and courage for the annual Iowa Special Olympics Summer Games.

The games are held in Ames each summer, and both the community and the university have always been very supportive, said summer games chairwoman Lana Voga.

“The families that come in feel that Ames is their home, and Iowa State and the Ames community make them feel that way,” Voga said. “They want to come back every year.”

Iowa State also frees up its major athletic facilities to make the event a success.

“The university has welcomed the Special Olympic athletes with open arms, and they have bent over backwards to accommodate us,” area director Deb Dearden-Eldred said.

Opening ceremonies begin tonight at 7:30 at Jack Trice Stadium. The schedule includes a parade of athletes, the lighting of the torch, skydivers and various speakers. The event will end with a fireworks display. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will move indoors to Hilton Coliseum.

The games run through Saturday, but they will kick off today with cycling in the Hilton parking lot at 9 a.m. Other events scheduled through Saturday include tennis, roller skating, soccer skills, soccer-six-a-side, bocce ball, golf skills, a race/walk, track and field, swimming and the wheelchair and developmental events.

After the athletes have finished their events, there are still plenty of activities to keep them busy at the Olympic Festival held in the Richardson Court Association courtyard.

“There will be entertainment, crafts, sports clinics and various other activities,” Voga said. “It’s a fun place where the athletes can go when they are not competing.”

The games would not be able to take place without the help of volunteers; Voga estimated there will be more than 1,000 people donating their time.

“The volunteers are community members, organizations, school groups and students, faculty and staff from ISU,” she said.

Both Voga and Dearden-Eldred volunteered their time to take leadership roles in the planning and execution of the games.

Voga could hardly find words to describe how it feels to be a part of the Special Olympics.

“It’s a wonderful feeling,” she said. “You are filled with such great anticipation, and then you see how excited [the athletes] are, and you feel their excitement. It’s just unbelievable.”

Dearden-Eldred said she feels very gratified to help out.

“[The athletes] give so much back to the volunteers,” she said. “I just enjoy working with special populations.”

In addition to the joy the games bring to everyone involved, Dearden-Eldred said she believes they raise more awareness of people with special needs in the central Iowa area. “[We learn] that special populations are just as important as everyone else,” she said.

Voga added that it’s not too late to volunteer. Anyone interested in helping either today, Friday or Saturday can contact the Ames Convention and Business Bureau at 232-4032.