Special Olympics returning to Bee Cave, Lakeway on Feb. 16-18
When a trailer full of bicycles was stolen at the start of the 2022 Special Olympics Winter Games hosted in Bee Cave and Lakeway, the community sprang into action. Biking enthusiasts from throughout the region brought in bicycles and built custom alterations so the bikes would be usable in the games.
“What an amazing community,” said Lakeway Mayor Tom Kilgore, “to have that citizen response spontaneously generate a solution and make sure those athletes were cared for.”
The event went on, and law enforcement officials later found the trailer.
This year, the community will once again welcome the Special Olympics Winter Games to Bee Cave and Lakeway for the third year in a row on Feb. 16-18. Competitions will be on Saturday and Sunday at Bee Cave Middle School and HCI Sports & Fitness, except for golf, which is at the Lions Municipal Golf Course in Austin. A full schedule and volunteer opportunities are available at sotx.org/winter-games. In addition to golf, the games will include powerlifting, volleyball and floorball.
The winter games are the culmination of regional competitions for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. For the neighboring cities, the new tradition of hosting powers up the local economy while providing businesses and residents an opportunity to get involved with a good cause.
The nonprofit Special Olympics Texas considers it a win-win because holding the event in the heart of Central Texas provides easier travel for 1,500 participants and about 4,500 volunteers and spectators.
“As long as Lakeway and Bee Cave continue to support the way they do, we hope to stay as long as possible,” said Chad Eason, the senior director of competition and games.
The host cities also made financial contributions to bring the games to the area. Lakeway contributed $300,000 from its hotel occupancy tax revenue to host the participants and fans. Bee Cave has fewer hotels inside its city limits and contributed $100,000. For city leaders, it’s worth the cost, and not only because the games bring thousands of visitors.
“It makes me believe so much in the goodness of people,” said Bee Cave Mayor Kara King. A former middle school science teacher, King enjoys soaking in the electric atmosphere while watching some of her former students compete.
The opening ceremony at 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 16, at the Star Hill Ranch, 15000 Hamilton Pool Road in Bee Cave, is open to the public. In previous years, the opening ceremony on Saturday had low attendance because some competitions were already over. The scheduling shift is meant to hype up all the participants and fans, and it will include dinner and a dance.
“We want to celebrate everyone,” said Eason, who started as an intern with Special Olympics Texas and has been working for the organization for eight years. “Come out once and you’re going to be hooked for life.”
But more than the addictive nature of working or volunteering with the Special Olympics, Eason said the athletes are the ones who most look forward to the games, whether to win gold medals or to participate in the fanfare.
“This is their opportunity to be with their friends, hang out and compete in sports,” Eason said.
One of those athletes, Earl Beechum will turn 24 the day before the games begin, and he hopes to win gold for his birthday with the chance to qualify for the national games in 2026, and eventually represent Team USA internationally. His sport of choice: powerlifting, where he can deadlift and squat more than 300 pounds.
When he isn’t making pizzas and helping out at his job in the cafeteria of Rouse High School in Leander, Beechum spends his free time training for powerlifting or enjoying other passions such as bowling, basketball and track and field. His goal this year is simple: “to win,” he said. “That’s the point.”
But he said he also enjoys the overall excitement of the event, cheering on fellow athletes with his family and fans.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Special Olympics returning to Bee Cave, Lakeway on Feb. 16-18
