Opening Ceremonies 2024

“Let the Games Begin!”

Hundreds of athletes, coaches, officials and volunteers from across New York State’s nine Special Olympics regions arrive for the Winter Games opening ceremonies at the OnCenter in Syracuse, N.Y. on February 23, 2024.

State politicians and athletes opened the games with encouragement and excitement with speeches and the reciting of the Athlete Oath.

The opening ceremonies is a time for old friends and competitors to reunite and prepare for Saturday’s competition in four sports – Floorball, Figure Skating, Alpine Skiing and Snowshoeing.

Athlete Will Kuhn, and Lt. Shaun Cuddeback present the torch at the opening ceremony at The Oncenter in Syracuse, N.Y. (Photo by Kayla Bartkowski)
Athletes from the New York City region prepare to walk out during the opening ceremony at The Oncenter in Syracuse, N.Y. (Photo by Kayla Bartkowski)
Athletes enter the opening ceremony at The Oncenter in Syracuse, N.Y. (Photo by Kayla Bartkowski)
Patty Van Savage and Kevin Miller embrace while watching videos from last year’s games at the opening ceremony at The Oncenter in Syracuse, N.Y. (Photo by Kayla Bartkowski)
Hundreds of athletes from across New York State gather for the opening ceremonies at The Oncenter in Syracuse, N.Y. (Photo by Mackenzie Stevenson)
Athletes arrive at The Oncenter in Syracuse, N.Y. for the athlete dinner before opening ceremonies. (Photo by Jackson Burns Bulmer)
Kenny Moriarity,42, from the Genesee region shows off his haircut before the opening ceremony at The Oncenter in Syracuse, N.Y. Moriarity does this haircut every year to support Special Olympics. (Photo by Joseph Ciembroniewicz)
Western Region athletes laugh together before the opening ceremony at The Oncenter in Syracuse, N.Y. (Photo by Jackson Burns Bulmer)
Genesee Region athletes cheer during the opening ceremony at The Oncenter in Syracuse, N.Y. (Photo by Jackson Burns Bulmer)
Alpine Skiiers Dylan McClurg, left, and Matt Holcomb, right, after the opening ceremony at The Oncenter in Syracuse, N.Y. (Photo by Jackson Burns Bulmer)
Athletes eat dinner in the banquet hall before the opening ceremony at The Oncenter in Syracuse, N.Y. (Photo by Joseph Ciembroniewicz)
Bus driver Charlie Jones, greets athletes as they board the bus after the opening ceremony at The Oncenter in Syracuse, N.Y. Jones states he is the bus driver every year from the Capital Region. (Photo by Kayla Bartkowski)
at The Oncenter in Syracuse, N.Y. (Photo by Jackson Burns Bulmer)
Jordan Root stands during the “Star-Spangled Banner” at the opening ceremony at The Oncenter in Syracuse, N.Y. (Photo by Kayla Bartkowski)
Athlete Brandy Bush hugs Kevin Anderson after he is announced the coach of the year award during the opening ceremony at The Oncenter in Syracuse, N.Y. (Photo by Audrey Gavagan)
Paris Adams sings the “Star-Spangled Banner” during the opening ceremony, at The Oncenter in Syracuse, N.Y. (Photo by Jackson Burns Bulmer)
Supporters welcome athletes during the opening ceremony at The Oncenter in Syracuse, N.Y. (Photo by Kayla Bartkowski)
Stacey Hengsterman, CEO of Special Olympics, speaks during the opening ceremony at The Oncenter in Syracuse, N.Y. (Photo by Kayla Bartkowski)
Chris Santacroce, left, and Luis Lopez, right, FaceTime Santacroce’s wife before the opening ceremony at the Oncenter in Syracuse, N.Y. (Photo by Jackson Burns Bulmer)