Light a torch and cue the music because the Special Olympics Texas state games are coming to the Lake Travis area Feb. 18-20. The games will include volleyball, powerlifting and floorball, and between 800 to 1,200 athletes from across the state are expected to participate. 

The Special Olympics’ mission is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Tim Martin, the CEO and president of Special Olympics Texas, said this will be the first major event held by his organization since the pandemic started. The games will include not only athletic events but also an opening ceremony and a victory dance. 

The Bee Cave and Lakeway city councils each approved spending $100,000 to help pay for lodging for the athletes and advertising for the event. The funding comes from each city’s hotel occupancy tax, which is intended to pay for programming that will bring people from out of town to stay in local hotels. Martin said he expects the event will book out most of the hotels in both cities since 90% of participants and their spectators will come from out of the area. 

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