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From July 2 - 7 the inaugural Special Olympics USA National Games will take place in Ames, Iowa, on the Iowa State University campus. Organizers expect more than 3,000 Special Olympic athletes from all 50 states to compete, and 10,000 spectators from across the country to attend the event. Competitions will include swimming, track and field, basketball, gymnastics, power lifting, bowling, tennis, golf, softball, bocce ball, soccer, and volleyball.

Check back daily for continuing updates on TEAM TEXAS, along with photos and results.

How They’ll Get There 

Hundreds of Cessna Citation business jet owners are donating their aircrafts, pilots and fuel to carry Special Olympics athletes to the National Games. Athletes from the Austin, San Antonio and Dallas areas will participate in what will be the largest private airlift in aviation history, departing on Cessna planes out of San Antonio and Dallas. More than 50 other Team Texas members will depart on commercial flights out of Houston.

During a 12- to 14-hour period, 300 Citations will fly more than 1,800 Special Olympic athletes and coaches from 35 states to the Des Moines International Airport, creating the largest private airlift in aviation history. The first airlift plane will land at 7:00 a.m. July 1, and Citations will continue to land or take off every 60-90 seconds, making Des Moines International Airport one of the busiest airports in the country on that day. Athletes will then travel to Ames to participate in the National Games. On July 8, the airplanes will return to Des Moines to take the athletes back to their home states.

For more information on the 2006 Special Olympics USA National Games, please visit www.2006nationalgames.org.