We love fanfare. We excel at cheering. We’re pretty great rooting and hooting and doing the wave. And as Friends of the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games in Seattle this week, July 1–6, we’ll be doing all those things from the stands and the field.
Nordstrom is excited to join the 3,000 athletes competing in 14 team and individual events and their 50,000 fans this week at the Seattle Center and University of Washington. We’ll be there with the delegates from all 50 states plus Washington, D.C., clapping in the stands, awarding medals, and assisting at the Young Athletes Festival and the bocce event.
Taye Diggs and Marshmello meet fans at the opening ceremony
The games kicked off Sunday, July 1, with a boisterous opening ceremony at Husky Stadium. Actor Taye Diggs emceed. Musicians Allen Stone, Charlie Puth, Marshmello, and Ann Wilson of Heart performed.
Allen Stone performs at the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games opening ceremony
July 1–5, Nordstrom will help fit athletes with new sneakers as part of the Healthy Athletes program, an initiative to provide participants with medical checkups and advice and preparatory aid for their events.
And Nordstrom will be helping at the bocce event July 2, 3 and 5 at the Dempsey Indoor Center at University of Washington. We’re excited to see the teams throw out the first pallino!
On July 5, at Rainier Vista, Nordstrom employees will award children aged 2–7 who participated in the Young Athletes Festival, which includes events open to children of all abilities in basic sport skills, like running, kicking and throwing. Participation is open to the public. The 2018 Special Olympics USA Games Young Athletes Event will be held:
- July 2 & 3, 10am–2pm, at Seattle Center, next to the International Fountain
- July 5, 10am–2pm, at the University of Washington, IMA Front Lawn
Also, look forward to Nordstrom’s selfie station, family-friendly DJ and bubble machine giveaways at the Young Athletes Festival!
Finally, Nordstrom will be fans in the stands during the basketball event, July 5, and the volleyball event, July 6, both held at the University of Washington. Woohoo!
The closing ceremony will take place July 6, 7pm, at Seattle’s Lake Union Park. This event is open to the public and will feature a performance by Hey Marseilles, food trucks, performers and more! Don’t miss out on the party.
All 2018 Special Olympics USA Games sports events are also open to the public. So if you, too, love to applaud and do a great standing “O”, pick an event (bowling, gymnastics, paddle boarding, soccer?) and show up. We’ll see you in the stands!