ESPN’s protection of 2026 Special Olympics USA Games begins June 20, stay from University of Minnesota in Minneapolis

• Nearly 50 hours of stay competitors will stream on ESPN+ all through the week
• Kevin Connors and Jen Lada will host the Opening Ceremony, with particular performances by Jon Batiste and Demi Lovato
• ABC presents Preview and Review spotlight specials

 From June 20–26, followers, athletes and on-air personalities will descend upon Minneapolis for the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games. Representing all 50 states, practically 3,000 athletes supported by 1,500 coaches will compete throughout 16 Olympic-type group and particular person sports activities.

A spread of Special Olympics occasions, together with athletics, swimming, powerlifting and flag soccer, shall be obtainable to stream on ESPN+ on the ESPN App. Throughout the week, ESPN will stream 48 hours of stay competitors.

Additional protection consists of ESPN’s presentation of the NFL Network’s Flag Football Unified Game, whereas ABC will air devoted preview and evaluation applications. Enhanced by ESPN’s industry-leading in-app options, together with multiview, Special Olympics followers can expertise the USA Games like by no means earlier than.

“For more than four decades, ESPN has partnered with Special Olympics to expand access and opportunity for all athletes, including the immense talent found within the intellectual disability community,” stated Kevin Martinez, Vice President, ESPN Corporate Citizenship. “Sports have a unique ability to bring people together. ESPN is proud to stream the 2026 USA Games and foster an environment rooted in excellence and acceptance.”

Games protection begins with the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games Opening Ceremony on Saturday, June 20, at Huntington Bank Stadium on the University of Minnesota. Coverage will stream on ESPN+ and Disney+, with the ceremony starting at 7:30 p.m. ET. ABC’s Preview Show will air Sunday, June 21 at midday ET, that includes highlights from the Opening Ceremony.

SportsCenter anchor Kevin Connors and options reporter Jen Lada will host ESPN’s Opening Ceremony protection, alongside Special Olympics Nebraska Hall of Famer and contributing reporter Wyatt Spalding. They shall be joined by Jess Sims and former Paralympian Victoria Arlen.

Academy Award and eight-time GRAMMY Award-winner Jon Batiste will carry out alongside two-time GRAMMY-nominated musician and actor Demi Lovato on the Opening Ceremony.

Each streamed venue will function commentary and evaluation from a former Olympic athlete: Dan O’Brien will host Athletics; Cheryl Haworth will host Powerlifting; Rowdy Gaines will host Swimming. Former NFL operating again Maurice Jones-Drew will host Flag Football.

Play-by-play reporting and evaluation in the course of the Games will function commentary from Sims, Arlen, Drew Fellios, Jason Ross Jr., Kelsey Riggs Cuff, Patrick Kinas, and Eric Rothman. Lada may also function ESPN’s main reporter for SportsCenter protection in the course of the Games.

ABC may also current a “Best of Show” evaluation particular on July 25 at midday ET, recapping high moments from throughout the competitors.

ESPN & Special Olympics

ESPN’s relationship with Special Olympics spans greater than 42 years. Since 2013, that relationship has deepened, with ESPN serving because the official media accomplice for Special Olympics World Games and USA Games occasions in Los Angeles (2015), Austria (2017), Seattle (2018), Abu Dhabi (2019), Orlando (2022), Berlin (2023), and Turin (2025), in addition to the fiftieth Anniversary of Special Olympics.

Additionally, ESPN and Special Olympics have a long-standing alliance to make use of the ability of sports activities to advertise social inclusion and acceptance via assist and sponsorship of Special Olympics Unified Sports® programming. Unified Sports® programming, devoted to selling social inclusion via shared sports activities coaching and aggressive experiences, brings collectively folks with and with out mental disabilities on the identical group. Inspired by the precept that coaching and enjoying collectively fosters friendship and understanding, Unified Sports® participation has grown considerably. Since 2013, ESPN has been the Global Presenting Sponsor of Unified Sports®, leading to a 111% improve in Unified members globally, now reaching over 1.8 million members.

ESPN staff have volunteered with Special Olympics for greater than 42 years.

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ESPN provides its full suite of networks and companies on to followers on the ESPN App with an ESPN Unlimited subscription, offering extra alternative, flexibility and entry to all of ESPN, together with greater than 47,000 stay occasions per yr, on-demand replays, industry-leading studio exhibits and authentic programming, and extra. The ESPN App offers followers a novel viewing expertise that features multiview and synchronized two-screen viewing choices, swipe-able shortform vertical video and a customized SportsCenter For You, in addition to built-in sport stats, ESPN Fantasy sports activities, betting odds and data from DraftKings, sports activities merchandise, and extra. These options can be found to all followers who watch on the ESPN App on cellular and related TV gadgets, whether or not they subscribe immediately or via a pay TV package deal from sure suppliers. Bundling choices obtainable for followers embrace a Disney+, Hulu, ESPN providing that gives a one-of-a-kind streaming package deal combining sports activities with branded and normal leisure. For extra go to stream.espn.com.

About the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games
The 2026 Special Olympics USA Games – scheduled for June 20-26, 2026, throughout Minnesota’s Twin Cities with sports activities competitions on the University of Minnesota and the National Sports Center in Blaine – is a nationwide celebration of inclusivity, altering perceptions, and the flexibility of the human spirit rising above limitations. The USA Games, with co-presenting companions Jersey Mike’s Subs and UnitedHealthcare, shall be one of many largest U.S. sporting occasions of the yr, drawing tens of 1000’s of followers to have fun the flexibility of practically 3,000 unbelievable athletes from all 50 states as they compete in 16 Olympic-type group and particular person sports activities.

Schedule