St. Thomas hosted the spring games for Special Olympics Minnesota in the Anderson Athletic and Recreation Complex this past weekend, continuing the growing relationship between the university and the Special Olympics organization.

The spring games, which include basketball and swimming competitions, races and powerlifting, have been held in the AARC since 2012. David Taylor of the St. Thomas Conference and Event Services said the AARC’s facilities are a big reason for the partnership between the university and Special Olympics.

Dave Dorn, a St. Thomas alum and the president and CEO of Special Olympics Minnesota, “wanted to bring this event here a decade ago, but we just didn’t have the facilities,” Taylor said. “With the advent of the Anderson Athletic and Recreation Center, it became feasible for us to host it.”

Pamela Bergerson, vice president of Sports and Education at Special Olympics Minnesota, said the AARC adds more than just athletic opportunities.

“We are able to host all competitive events of spring games on one campus, which is ideal for our athletes, coaches and families,” Bergerson said. “It also allows us the space to offer special events and health screenings for our more than 2,000 athletes who will be in attendance this weekend.”

During this year’s games, the organization took time amidst the competitions to focus on other issues, such as the “Spread the Word to End the Word” campaign.

“‘Spread the Word’ is an anti-bullying campaign run around the state and country asking people to end the use of the r-word,” Caty Dittrich, a Special Olympics Minnesota associate, said.

Taylor added that the partnership is great exposure for St. Thomas.

“We’re always in the market for recruiting students, whether they’re graduate or undergraduate, to our campus,” Taylor said. “So an event like the Special Olympics brings 2,200 athletes to our campus and over 6,000 visitors will come through these doors in the next three days.”

Moving forward, Taylor said he hopes to keep the relationship with Special Olympics Minnesota moving forward.

“We’re open to it as long as they are,” Taylor said. “We’ve booked the dates for 2016 spring games already … So we’re committed to them for at least another year, and I hope the relationship continues.”

Andrew Frentz can be reached at fren2218@stthomas.edu.