TERRE HAUTE | Porter County will send 107 athletes to compete at the 2008 Special Olympics Indiana Summer Games June 6-8 on the campus of Indiana State University in Terre Haute, making it the second largest delegation to be represented.

More than 2,400 Special Olympics athletes are registered to participate in the 2008 Summer Games, making this year's Games the largest to-date. Of Special Olympics Indiana's 69 county delegations, 66 will be sending athletes.

"We are very pleased with this year's Summer Games record attendance," said Special Olympics Indiana Vice President of Programs and Summer Games Director, Jeff Mohler. "We hope to one day have athletes representing all 92 of Indiana's counties as we continue our mission of providing year-round sports training and athletic competition to adults and children with intellectual disabilities across the state."

The 2008 Summer Games is the culmination of the spring sports season for Special Olympics athletes in Indiana. Competition events include track and field, aquatics, bocce, bowling, cycling, horseshoes and volleyball. Nearly 2,000 coaches and volunteers will assist throughout the weekend, and hundreds of spectators and family members are expected to attend.

The 2008 Summer Games weekend will officially kick off with Opening Ceremonies at 7 p.m. June 6 at the ISU Hulman Center. Opening Ceremonies will feature a parade of athletes; entertainment by K-9s in Flight and the ISU Sparkettes; a performance by the ISU Sycamore Basketball Band and mascot Sycamore Sam; and the lighting of the Special Olympics Indiana "Flame of Hope" by members of the Law Enforcement Torch Run to benefit Special Olympics Indiana to open the Games. At Opening Ceremonies, Jim O'Brien, head coach of the Indiana Pacers and Honorary Chair of this year's Summer Games will welcome athletes, volunteers and spectators.

In addition, a mobile license branch will be available in Olympic Town from approximately noon to 5 p.m. on June 6 so that interested participants will be able to receive a Special Olympics license plate on site. Athletes will also have the opportunity to receive free vision, dental and hearing screenings as a part of the Special Olympics Healthy Athletes™ program.

--For The Times