The Special Olympics World Games are the world’s largest inclusive sports event. Thousands of athletes with intellectual disabilities compete together in 26 sports. Nine days of exciting and inspiring competitions, by athletes and for athletes.
From 17 to 25 June 2023, the Special Olympics World Games will take place in Berlin – the first time that Germany will host the Games!
The following athletes, coaches and LETR officers will be attending and representing Kansas as part of Team USA.
Manhattan Sports Club Unified Volleyball Team
The Manhattan Sports Club Volleyball team is headed to Berlin for the 2023 World Games! We’re so excited for them and know they’ll do fantastic! Check out the video to see what they’re most looking forward to!
Tamara Hageman
Haleigh Jung
Kim Schnee
Michael Carpenter
Brad Havenstein
Luke Pratt
Stephan Shimkus
Chris Blanton
Jamie Schnee
Megan Schnee
Dirk Andrade
Austin Tomandl
Lexie Colston
Final Leg Torch Runners
Courtney Davis is 37 years old and lives in Wichita, Kansas with his wife and daughter. He has been involved with Special Olympics Kansas for the past 20 years. He participates in basketball, track and field, volleyball, soccer, tennis, and cornhole. Courtney represented Kansas in the USA games held in New Jersey.
Courtney is an avid sports fan and follows Oklahoma Football, Dallas Cowboys, wrestling, and college basketball.
Jeremiah Waters has been involved with the Torch Run for 19 years through the Merriam Police Department where he is a sergeant. Jeremiah has been an at large member of the Kansas Torch Run Executive Council for more than 10 years and is currently the Kansas City Metro Region Coordinator. He coordinates two annual events for the Kansas Torch Run – the Heroes Pull, which raises $10,000 yearly, and a memorabilia auction that raises $25,000 yearly.
Jeremiah attended the 50th Anniversary Special Olympics celebration in Chicago with Special Olympics Kansas and was inducted into the Richard LaMunyon Torch Run Kansas Hall of Fame in 2018.
2023 Global Youth Leadership Summit
Check out this behind the scenes video to see their reactions to finding out the news!
