2026 Summer Games/SONC State Championships

Last updated: May 29, 2026 – View Recording of Summer Games Meeting, use passcode ^$RHz12n, New Heat Sheets.

The information below is pertaining to the 2026 Summer Games. If there is a TBD by a section heading that means the information detail on the page has not been finalized. Once we have all the information from SONC the webpage will be update and any TBD entries will be removed. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact one of the coaches.

Dates of the Games: May 29th – May 31st, 2026

Communication: We will be communicating to everyone during the weekend using WhatsApp and email. I have tried to add everyone that has already joined our WhatsApp team to the “Summer Games” group. We will send an email with the QR code and link.

We would strongly recommend reading the Summer Games Head of Delegation Page. It has more information about all the games, including the Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg, and Healthy Athletes, just to name a few, when that information is published.

You can cheer on the nearly 300 torch runners from across the state at the Law Enforcement Torch Run Final Leg. Check out this flyer for more details!

Official Order of Events

The order of events without the heats can be found below. Once the final order has been release it will be updated.

Wake County Events by Delegation

Final Individual/Relay Divisions (updated 5/29)

Opening Ceremony – Friday, May 29th, 2026

This section just covers information about the Opening Ceremony. Further down on this page under the Schedule section there will be a detailed timeline for the Opening Ceremony and the rest of the games activities and competition.

This year’s theme is Rock and Roll so don’t forget your guitar and drum sticks because the party is going to last all night long! There will be a bag-check at the doors. If you don’t need a bag. don’t bring one. Be sure to wear your cobalt blue delegation shirts to represent your local program.

The program will feature performances by the Smithfield-Selma Senior High School Drum Line and local rock band, 9.5 Below! The ceremony will end at 8:30 p.m. with the lighting of the cauldron by Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics North Carolina® representatives, which signifies the opening of Summer Games!

Friday, May 29th
6:30 p.m. – Doors open and dance party begins
7:30 p.m. – Program begins
8:50 p.m. – The ceremony will end

Opening Ceremony is also streamed via YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/live/mQ8Y0WIdhp4

Reynolds Coliseum – NC State University
2411 Dunn Ave.
Raleigh, NC 27607
Parking map can be found here.

Wake County will be wearing matching cobalt blue colored t-shirts handed out at practice.d

Wake County will be gathering around the entrance of Reynolds around 6:15pm. In the past the swim team have waited in the shade by the grassy area near Reynolds (see X in picture below). Those athletes staying in the dorms will be walking from dinner and will try to be at the meeting spot between 6:00-6:15pm. If you are not staying in the dorms and want your athlete to walk in with the team meet us as the X shown below no later than 6:15. Call, text or WhatsApp if you have any issues.

Wake County is going to be walking in together and sitting in section K as indicated on the map below. If for some reason you miss meeting up with the delegation outside, go into Reynolds through the main entrance, through the stadium entrance and we will be there on the right side. If your athlete is not staying in the dorms, you can pick up your athlete after the ceremony in the same location where we met (see X in the picture above). If anything changes we will send a message in WhatsApp.

More information about the Opening Ceremony can be found on the HOD page.

Competition Information

Above is the Triangle Aquatic Center map for the days of the competition, including parking and drop off locations.

See schedule section of this webpage for detailed timeline of the day.

• Dates: May 30th – 31st
  • Saturday Competition: 9:00am – 4:00pm
  • Sunday Competition: 9:00am – 4:00pm (All athletes should be picked up from TAC)
• Transportation to the competition venue will be provided for those athletes staying in the dorms.
• Location:  Triangle Aquatic Center, 275 Convention Dr., Cary, NC 27511
• Watch live on TAC Titans TV: https://www.youtube.com/@tactitans (Click on the LIVE tab to view)
• Live results will be available on the Meet Mobile app. Download the Meet Mobile app to follow along! Note – The base app is free, but there is a cost to access meet results. 
• Parking – There have been significant changes at this venue with parking so take your time. We do have access to more parking but overflow parking may still be directed to another location. There will be a place to drop off athletes. Remember that general public will also be using the center and the parking lot. Look at the parking map above.
• Venue Seating – We ask that everyone be considerate of others with the seating and only sit in the section that is assigned to the Wake County delegation. This year we will be sitting in section C1, rows 3-6 & C2, rows 2-6. You are more than welcome to bring chairs and tents to sit outside of the venue. If you would like to take pictures during your athletes events, F1 row 1 and E2 row 1 over the competition pool have been reserved for photos (see seating chart below).
• Saturday lunches will be hot dogs cooked onsite by the venue team. Sunday lunches will consist of sandwiches or wraps, chips, and fruit donated by Sheetz. There is a concession stand at TAC if the athlete has money and would like to purchase something.
• Swimming Program and competition information can be accessed from the Swimming section of the SONC Summer Games site.
• Awards will be in the Atrium upstairs
• We will try to send a message to the WhatsApp group on what event is staging once an hour to keep everyone up-to-date.

Summer Games Roster

The following individuals have been registered for Summer Games. The athletes staying in the dorms will have transportation provided during the duration of the games.

Athlete Packing List

Athletes need to bring the following items if staying in the dorms. Athletes will also need to make sure they pack everything they need for the swim meet. We would recommend packing everything they need for the swim meet in their swim bag and the items for overnight in another bag. Check out the post What to Bring to a Swim Meet for information on what you should bring for the meet.

• Sunscreen (optional) – we will be waiting outside for a bit before going into Reynolds Coliseum for Opening Ceremony
• Bed linens (sheets or sleeping bag, blanket, etc)
• Towels (one for showering, one for the pool)
• Pillow with pillowcase
• Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, hand sanitizer, feminine hygiene products, deodorant, shampoo, soap, shaving materials)
• Clothes – pajamas, underwear, socks, shirts, shorts, rain coat, etc
  • You can bring a nice outfit for the dance on Saturday if you want.
  • Pack and wear your cobalt blue Wake County shirt and shorts for Friday’s Opening Ceremonies.
• Pack your black Raleigh Racers t-shirt or another Wake County shirt and shorts to wear for awards. Something that you will not mind getting wet.
• Swimming gear (goggles, towels, swim caps, water bottle, deck shoes)
• Money for souvenirs or snacks
• Face mask, if you are immunocompromised
• Entertainment for competition/downtime (books, magazines, headphones, tablet, etc.)
• Medications clearly labeled with dosage and time of administration. Please let me know by email or text if the athlete can self medicate or needs help.
• Make sure all items bags and items are labeled.

Swim Team Schedule

The information below is the overall schedule for the weekend. By each time, we will indicate if this item pertains to athletes staying in the dorms (Dorms), athletes not staying in the dorms (DayOnly) or all athletes (All).

Athletes will be given credentials that will be used to get into the dining all, opening ceremony as well as the dance/Olympic town. I will be handing out credentials Friday and Saturday.

Friday, May 29

• 2:30 pm – 4:00pm (Dorms)- Check in for athletes that are staying in the dorms. Please note the drop-off window has been shortened. so we have time at the beginning to get ready for the athletes to arrive and time at the end to get the athletes fed and ready for Opening Ceremony. For those dropping off athletes, get a SONC program-specific parking pass from Coach Chris to put on your front dashboard so volunteers will know where to direct you. Dropoff will be in the Lee Lot off Sullivan Dr (See map below). You will follow the arrows for “Delegation Arrivals” and have your SONC program-specific parking pass visible.
  
• Wake County will be staying in Lee (7 on the map).  The drop off location will be the D on the map below and shown in the picture above.
• Coaches and volunteers will be onsite to assist athletes in getting their belongings into the dorm. If you plan to park your car on campus to assist your athlete or if you are a coach you will need to make sure you register with NC State for a parking pass by clicking here to register. This is seperate from the SONC program-specific parking pass.
• Please follow these steps when registering for the parking pass:
  – Select “Purchase Event Permit”
  – Agree to the Terms of Service
  – Select “Special Olympics”
  – Select full or half day and the date of the Special Olympics 2026 you are attending.
  – When prompted, enter SONC2026 as the Event Voucher Code. The code is case-sensitive and must be entered exactly as shown. Select Apply Voucher.
  – Select an available Permit Type (this will populate above the voucher code field in the gray box).
  – Select/Confirm your parking dates. Select Confirm.
  – Select the Location.
  – Select “Add Vehicle”. Enter vehicle license plate, state, year, make, and model. Review
  information entered for accuracy and select Add.
  – Enter name and phone number. Select Confirm.
  – Select Continue.
  – Enter email address.
  – Review information. Select Checkout.
  

Dorm assignments, breakfast choice and medication requirements can be found below. Breakfast Choices are: EC = Egg and Cheese Biscuit, BEC = Bacon Egg and Cheese, SEC = Sausage Egg and Cheese, AJ = Apple Juice and OJ = Orange Juice. If your athlete has any food allergies or restrictions please let us know.

• 4:30-5:00 pm (Dorms)– Fountain Dining Hall opens (menu available here)
• 6:00-6:15 pm (All)– Head to opening ceremony. Wake County will be meeting at the back of the Tally Student Union just past the Stafford Commons. This is where you will drop of DayOnly athletes if you would like them to walk in with the team.
  
  
  
• 6:30 pm (All) – Doors open and dance party begins
• 7:30 pm (All) – Opening Ceremony begins
• 8:30 pm (All)- Opening Ceremony ends – DayOnly athletes will need to be picked up at the location where we met at the beginning of the ceremony. (see X on map above).
• 9:00 pm (Dorms)- Bed!

Saturday, May 30th

The overall competition schedule for swimming can be found Swimming section of the SONC Summer Games site. If your athlete is only participating in events on Saturday you do not have to attend Sunday unless you want to cheer for your fellow athletes. The closer to the event we get the information below may change.

• 6:00 am (Dorms)– Breakfast pickup at Fountain dining hall
• 7:30am – 7:45 am (Dorms)– Depart for TAC
• 8:00 am – 8:15 am (All) – All athletes arrive at TAC. NOTE If your athlete does not have an event on Saturday they do not have to come. Also, if their first event is later in the day they don’t have to be here during this time. However, it is your responsibility to get the athlete to TAC before their event.
• 8:20 am (All) – Warm-ups begin
• 8:45 am (All) – Staging for first event starts
• 9:00 am – 4:00 pm (All)– Competition with rolling awards. Lunch will be provided mid-day. Saturday lunches will be hot dogs cooked onsite by the venue team.
• 3:00 pm – 9:00pm (All) – Healthy Athletes screenings (Talley Student Union). This is optional if any of the athletes would like to attend.
• 5:30 pm (Dorms)– Fountain dining hall opens for dinner
• 6:30 pm (All) – Olympic Town Activities open (Talley Student Union & Carmichael Gym). If you are not staying in the dorms, you are still welcome to participate. Athletes will require credentials to enter. Family will be allowed in, but must sign-in as a guest.
• 7:00 pm (All) – DJ starts playing
• 9:00 pm (All) – Healthy Athletes screening closes
• 9:00 pm (All) – Dance/Olympic Town closes
• 9:15 pm (Dorms) – Return to dorms for shower/bed. Athletes should pack everything and be prepared to take everything with them to the pool

Sunday, May 31st

• 6:15 am – 6:30 am (Dorms) – We will have breakfast at Fountain dining hall
• 7:30am – 7:45 am (Dorms)– Depart for TAC
• 8:00 am – 8:15 am (All) – Athletes arrive at TAC.
  NOTE If your athlete does not have an event on Sunday they do not have to come. Also, if their first event is later in the day they don’t have to be here during this time. However, it is your responsibility to get the athlete to TAC before their event.
• 9:00 am – 4:00 pm (All) – Competition with rolling awards. Lunch will be provided mid-day. Sunday lunches will consist of sandwiches or wraps, chips, and fruit donated by Sheetz.
• 4:00 pm (All) – Pick up athletes from TAC. If the meet finishes early, parents will be notified via text or a phone call.