For the past 20 years, local resident Adam Hjerpe has cheered on his son, Steven, as he competed in a variety of different sports, from bowling and track, to bocce and golf.

This weekend, he will join Steven and thousands of volunteers in welcoming 3,000 athletes, 1,500 coaches and 75,000 fans from all 50 states to the Twin Cities for the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games.

Hjerpe is the Board Chair of this year’s games and serves as Chief Operating Officer at Medica, one of many businesses and corporations from throughout the Twin Cities area joining forces to make the event both successful and inspiring. His son, now age 28, has been involved in Special Olympics for the past 20 years. While Steven will not compete as an athlete this year, he will be one of many “gratitude ambassadors” lending support to other athletes and welcoming attendees to the local games.

“First and foremost, I am a Special Olympics dad,” Hjerpe said. “I saw what this organization has done for our son, and the biggest reward comes from seeing the athletes compete.”

The opening ceremony for the 2026 games will officially kick off at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 20, at Huntington Bank Stadium on the University of Minnesota campus. The event will celebrate athletes, their families, volunteers, honored guests and fans. It will include the Parade of Athletes, honoring all 52 delegations, as well as the lighting of the unique caldron and the culmination of the Law Enforcement Torch Run final leg, signifying the official start of the games. Performances by Demi Lovato and Jon Batiste will be part of the celebration’s opening.

His dedication to Special Olympics has expanded over decades, having served in various leadership roles over the years and as demonstrated through the Hjerpe family’s involvement in Special Olympics. Since 2008, he estimates his family and friends have raised close to $500,000 through participating in the annual “Polar Plunge” held in the dead of winter. Aunts, uncles, cousins and friends have all jumped into the icy waters of Prior Lake to raise funds for the “Freezin’ for Steven” team.

When approached to lead this year’s event, Hjerpe recognized the organization has “been very blessed” with the support received from the greater metro community which already gained notoriety through the hosting of the Super Bowl in 2018, the Men’s Final Four in 2019 and the NCAA Women’s Final Four in 2022. Wendy Blackshaw, President of Minnesota Sports and Events was a huge help to the organization, having been involved with bringing decision-makers for those sporting events to the table. State legislators and community leaders were also key in promoting Minnesota as a top contender for hosting this year’s international celebration.

Hjerpe said a lot of good things happen both during competitions and outside of the sports arena. The games build confidence within the athletes, many of whom make new friends and connections for future job opportunities.

Events will be scheduled throughout the coming week, with most being held at University of Minnesota and the National Sports Center in Blaine. Volunteers are still needed to help with the games that will take place through June 26. Registration for groups of 10 or more volunteers are welcome. For more information on open volunteer positions, use this link. All opportunities are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. An overview of all activities scheduled for the 2026 Special Olympics USA games can be found here.

“The games present a real opportunity to bring people together,” Hjerpe said. “We are better together as a community that celebrates the accomplishments of these amazing individuals. They are truly inspirational.”