UC Davis this weekend hosts the Summer Games of Special Olympics Northern California for the first time, with nearly 750 athletes expected. The campus is the venue for most of the competitions, and where the athletes are being housed for the weekend as well.

Admission is free to the opening ceremonies and all the competitions — with the public encouraged to come out to cheer on the athletes. The public also is invited to participate in the Reach for the Gold 5-kilometer run-walk.

The Games officially get under way with the lighting of the Special Olympics cauldron in Aggie Stadium. This is set to happen during the opening ceremonies — complete with the parade of athletes — beginning at 7:30 p.m. today (June 26). Organizers said the spark for the cauldron will come from the Flame of Hope, carried into the stadium by UC Davis police officers. They are among some 500 law enforcement officers participating in a Northern California torch relay that began June 18.

Competition is scheduled June 27 and 28, with track and field at Toomey Field (starting at 9 a.m. June 27 and 8 a.m. June 28, tennis at the Marya Welch Tennis Center (9 a.m. both days) and aquatics at the Schaal Aquatic Center (9 a.m. both days). Special Olympians will compete in bocce at the Martinez Waterfront Park. Olympic Village activities are scheduled in Freeborn Hall.

The Reach for the Gold run-walk is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. June 27, as a community awareness and fund-raising event. Starting place is the A Street Intramural Field, south of Toomey Field.

More information.