Woodstock to host Special Olympics 2025 Summer Games

by | Jul 14, 2025

Event will determine Team NB for the national stage

On July 17, over 200 athletes and their coaches will arrive in Woodstock for the 2025 Special Olympics Summer Games.

The opening ceremony will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the AYR Motor Centre, with teams escorted by local pipers and police. The Flame of Hope will ignite the cauldron to mark the official start.

From Friday, July 18 to Saturday, July 19, competitors from seven New Brunswick regions, along with softball teams from Nova Scotia and PEI, will compete in five events: athletics, bocce, golf, softball, and swimming.

Results will help select Team NB for the 2026 National Canada Summer Games and potentially the 2027 World Games.

Jennifer Jackson at the 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Austria for snowshoeing. (Submitted photo)

Debbi Graham, the Regional Coordinator in the Western Valley Region, is hoping for a strong local turnout, notably to support Western Valley athletes competing against top regional talent.

“We really hope to fill the bleachers at our opening ceremony. Throughout the competitions on Friday and Saturday, it will be the best chance for local folks to witness world-class athletes compete to represent Team NB at the 2026 national games and possibly on to the 2027 World games in Santiago, Chile,” said Graham.

Woodstock’s Patti Connors competing in the 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games in Dubai for track and field. (Submitted photo)

For those wanting to take in the competition, the event schedule is as follows:

Friday, July 18
9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 to 2 p.m. — Athletics at the Connell Park Raceway
9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 to 4:30 p.m. — Bocce at the Day and Ross Community Centre
8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 to 4:30 p.m. — Softball at the Day and Ross Community Centre
9 a.m. to 2 p.m. — Golf at the Woodstock Golf and Curling Club
9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 to 2 p.m. — Swimming at the AYR Motor Centre Pool

Saturday, July 19
9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 to 2 p.m. — Athletics at the Connell Park Raceway, followed by medal presentations
8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 to 3 p.m. — Softball finals at the Day and Ross Community Centre, followed by medal presentations
9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 to 4:30 p.m. — Bocce Finals at the Day and Ross Community Centre, followed by medal presentations
9 a.m. to 2 p.m. — Golf at the Woodstock Golf and Curling Club, followed by medal presentations
9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 to 2 p.m. — Swimming at the AYR Motor Centre, followed by medal presentations

Forest Fire Index – click to view

Click to view

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Join our mailing list to receive the latest news and updates from our team.

You have successfully subscribed! A confirmation email has been sent to your email account. To complete your subscription, open the email and click on the confirmation link. (If you can't find it in your inbox, try your junk and spam folders.) If you'd like to receive our updates more than once a week, please click the "Manage your subscription" link at the bottom of your Newsletter.