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.      

Wednesday,  June  4,  10  a.m.  Event  and  Conference  Services  (ECS)  begins  seAng  up  SECU  Arena  for  the  Opening  Ceremonies.  The  three-­‐day  set  up  involves  laying  carpet  on  the  en3re  arena  floor  as  well  as  puAng  together  the  concourse,  seAng  out  chairs  and  adjus3ng  the  stage.    

Wednesday,  June  4,  4  p.m.  Print  Services  delivers  350  Summer  Games  Event  Guides  to  help  guests  follow  the  compe33on  schedule.  Art  Services  puts  the  final  touches  on  the  customized  Special  Olympics  OneCards,  then  IT  Support  Specialist  Greg  Yackley  codes  them  for  athletes  to  use  during  the  games.    

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.    

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  aYempt.”    

“Win, but if you can’t win be brave in the attempt.”

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.    

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.    

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

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

Friday,  June  6,  7:30  p.m.  TU  Police  work  alongside  volunteers  at  the  event.  Police  and  ECS-­‐contracted  paramedics  are  on  hand  throughout  the  weekend  to  monitor  guest  and  athlete  safety.  

Friday,  June  6,  7:30  p.m.  President  Maravene  Loeschke  high-­‐fives  athletes  as  they  enter  the  arena  to  cheers  and  applause.  Athletes  ages  8  –  63  par3cipated  in  the  event.  

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.”      

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.  

Saturday,  June  7,  6  a.m.  ShuYle  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  a  unique  event  for  drivers.  “It’s  nice  to  see  the  camaraderie  among  the  athletes  –  they  really  support  one  another  and  cheer  each  other  on.”    

Saturday,  June  7,  8:30  a.m.  The  track  and  field  compe33on  starts.  St.  Mary’s  County  resident  Jerry  GaYon  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.  

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

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

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  who  compete  gain  something—as  do  the  more  than  100  A&F  staff  members  who  help  make  the  games  a  reality.