Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Utah Summer Games topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Utah Summer Games to mark 40th anniversary in Iron County; organizers highlight economic impact, Special Olympics partnership
Summary
Larry H. Miller Utah Summer Games director told the commission the 40th-anniversary series brought 10,740 athletes in 2025 and an estimated $17–$20 million economic impact; the county later approved a $300,000 MOU to support the event.
Jon Oglesby, director of the Larry H. Miller Utah Summer Games, presented a 2025 recap and a preview of community events for the 40th anniversary, thanking Iron County and Tourism Director Maria Twitchell for local support.
Oglesby said the 2025 Games involved 10,740 athletes from 17 states and one foreign country, and that the Games drew participants from 27 of Utah’s 29 counties; using county-supplied data, he estimated the economic impact at $17–$20 million. He highlighted new partnerships last year, including a Special Olympics USG collaboration that brought roughly 500 Special Olympics athletes into the program, and an inaugural Girls Flag Football skills camp hosted locally.
For 2026, Oglesby outlined a community events calendar from May 28 through July 4: the Special Olympics USG on May 28 with a free drone show, an opening ceremony on June 5, an America250 “Summer Street Fest” on June 13, and USG Day at Brian Head Resort on June 20. He also said SUU partnership offerings now include a three-credit SUU course available to high-school participants for $30 and a workforce-readiness certificate for participating Special Olympics athletes.
The commission subsequently approved a three-year, $300,000 MOU to support the Games; Sam Woodall said the TRCCA advisory board recommended the award and the Games meet eligibility for the funds.
