Photos from behind the scenes of the Maryland Special Olympics Summer Games at Towson University, June 6 - 8, 2014. Take a look at the athletes competing in the games, and the TU staff making them a reality.

1. Wednesday,
June
4,
6
a.m.
The
Landscape
Services
crew
prepares
athle3c
fields
for
the
games.
Grass
is
mowed
and
baselines
are
painted.
The
soccer
field
is
prepped
for
bocce.

2. Wednesday,
June
4,
10
a.m.
Event
and
Conference
Services
(ECS)
begins
se@ng
up
SECU
Arena
for
the
Opening
Ceremonies.
The
three-­‐
day
set
up
involves
laying
carpet
on
the
en3re
arena
floor,
as
well
as
pu@ng
together
the
concourse
and
stage.

3. Wednesday,
June
4,
4
p.m.
Print
Services
delivers
350
Summer
Games
Event
Guides
to
help
guests
follow
the
compe33ons.
Art
Services
puts
the
final
touches
on
the
customized
Special
Olympics
OneCards
that
athletes
use
during
the
games.

4. Thursday,
June
5,
2
p.m.
Housing
check-­‐in
begins
for
the
1,000
people
who
stay
at
TU
during
the
games.
Dorm
rooms
have
been
reconfigured
for
convenience
and
accessibility.
Some
athletes
say
living
away
from
home
during
the
games
helps
them
become
more
self-­‐reliant.

5. Friday,
June
6,
10
a.m.
The
first
compe33on,
cheerleading,
begins
in
the
Towson
Center.
More
than
1,300
athletes
compete
throughout
the
weekend.
The
goal
for
athletes
is
“win,
but
if
you
can’t
win
be
brave
in
the
aUempt.”
“Win, but if you can’t win
be brave in the attempt.”

6. Friday,
June
6,
4
p.m.
Dinner
service
begins
for
athletes
and
their
families.
Over
the
course
of
the
next
three
days,
180
Dining
Services
staff
members
prepare
and
serve
4,300
meals
and
3,000
box
lunches.
TU
chefs
work
with
Special
Olympics
nutri3onists
to
develop
a
customized
menu
for
the
games.

7. Friday,
June
6,
4:30
p.m.
Environmental
Health
&
Safety
conducts
a
planned
fire
drill
for
Special
Olympics
athletes.
One
athlete
comes
out
of
her
room
and
confidently
heads
upstairs
before
being
directed
to
the
lobby.
Overall,
the
event
goes
smoothly
and
there
are
lots
of
smiles
as
athletes
help
each
other
outside.

8. Friday,
June
6,
7:30
p.m.
The
opening
ceremony
begins.
ECS
staff
direct
guests
to
their
seats.

9. Friday,
June
6,
7:30
p.m.
Event
technicians
ready
the
sound
and
ligh3ng
as
speakers
prepare
to
take
the
stage.

10. Friday,
June
6,
7:30
p.m.
TU
Police
and
ECS-­‐contracted
paramedics
are
on
hand
to
monitor
safety
at
the
event.

11. Friday,
June
6,
7:30
p.m.
President
Maravene
Loeschke
high-­‐fives
athletes
ages
8
–
63
as
they
enter
the
arena
to
cheers
and
applause.

12. Friday,
June
6,
7:30
p.m.
ECS
staff
film
as
the
event
begins
and
Loeschke
accepts
an
award
of
recogni3on
on
behalf
of
TU.
The
presenter
says,
“Thanks
to
our
great
partnership,
Special
Olympics
of
Maryland
has
become
synonymous
with
Towson
University.”

13. Friday,
June
6,
11
p.m.
ECS
staff
break
down
the
event
and
do
a
quick
debrief.
TU
staff
will
be
back
at
it
in
less
than
seven
hours.

14. Saturday,
June
7,
6
a.m.
ShuUle
Service
for
the
day
begins,
las3ng
un3l
10
p.m.
Parking
&
Transporta3on
provides
approximately
4,500
rides
during
the
games.
Bus
driver
Willie
Jones
says
it’s
unique
event
for
drivers.
“It’s
nice
to
see
the
camaraderie
among
the
athletes
–
they
really
support
one
another
and
cheer
each
other
on.”

15. Saturday,
June
7,
8:30
a.m.
The
track
and
field
compe33on
starts.
St.
Mary’s
County
resident
Jerry
GaUon
competes
in
track,
shot
put
and
long
shot.
Blind
since
birth,
Jerry’s
coach
runs
alongside
him
with
direc3ons
to
help
him
stay
in
his
lane.

16. Sunday,
June
8,
2
p.m.
The
swimming
compe33on
comes
to
an
end.
Acer
ge@ng
out
of
the
pool,
compe3tor
Brandi
Kugler
(boUom
right)
immediately
says,
“Can
I
come
back
next
year?”
Brandi
finally
made
it
to
the
2014
games
acer
trying
for
five
years.
Her
coach
says,
“She
hasn’t
stopped
talking
about
the
Towson
games
for
the
past
six
months!”

17. Sunday,
June
8,
3
p.m.
The
last
event
concludes.
Awards
are
given
out
to
each
of
the
approximately
1,300
athletes.

18. Sunday,
June
8,
4
p.m.
The
Olympic
cauldron
is
ex3nguished.
Of
the
par3cipa3ng
athletes,
160
qualify
for
the
USA
Games.
But
all
of
the
athletes
leave
having
gained
something,
and
having
shared
something
with
the
more
than
100
A&F
staff
members
who
help
make
the
games
a
reality.