It’s here, the week Minnesotans have been waiting and planning for more than 4 years, to be exact. It was May 6, 2022, when Governor Tim Walz announced during a press conference that Minnesota had won the competitive hosting bid for the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, happening June 20 to 26. The events have the Twin Cities buzzing with 3,000 athletes, 1,500 coaches, 10,000 volunteers, and 75,000 fans.
“It’s a big deal,” said Matt Peterson, CEO of local markets, individual and specialty at UnitedHealthcare Group. “This continues to put Minnesota on the map as a state and a people that not only care but are committed.”
UnitedHealthcare is a presenting sponsor of the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games, designed to celebrate athletic excellence, inclusion, and community impact.
Peterson and UnitedHealthcare have also pledged a unique commitment to all the Special Olympics competitors. It's called the Healthy Athletes Program and provides Special Olympics athletes with free health screenings in seven critical disciplines: vision, audiology, dentistry, prevention and nutrition, emotional health, physical therapy, and podiatry. Athletes who finish all seven screenings get an added perk. “We’ll get them a custom pair of shoes as well,” Peterson added.
According to the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games data, individuals with intellectual disabilities face an average lifespan that is over ten years shorter than that of the general population due to underlying, unaddressed preventable health conditions.
“People might assume that those with intellectual and developmental disabilities receive comprehensive care,” Peterson said. “But they can face significant barriers to coordinating care. Multidisciplinary care options that they need are available through this program.”
Throughout the Games, Healthy Athletes stations are located at the University of Minnesota, ensuring that athletes have the opportunity to prioritize their well-being while competing.
Events are spread across the Twin Cities, with the University of Minnesota hosting primary competitions and athlete housing, the National Sports Center in Blaine hosting various athletic events, and Allianz Field in Saint Paul featuring special programming. Events are varied and include volleyball, flag football, softball, tennis, swimming, golf, power lifting, competitive cheer, gymnastics, bowling, and for the first time in Special Olympics USA Games history, pickleball and cornhole.
“Olympic fan favorite and gold medal winner Sunisa "Suni" Lee from St. Paul is going to be at the Gymnastics event,” Peterson said while describing events he is planning to attend. He added that fans can get all the event details on the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games app, which shows you exactly where to go and when to support the athletes who have traveled from all over the country to compete here in the Twin Cities.
The best way to support this is to show up and make this the best event ever,” Peterson said. “It’s our chance to really celebrate these wonderful people.”
