Road To 2026USA Games Ep.1: What Are The USA Games?

Episode 1 of Road to Special Olympics USA Games: a Special Chronicles Podcast Series kicks off our journey to the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games by answering the essential question: What are the USA Games? On this premiere episode, host Daniel Smrokowski is joined today with someone who has been involved with the USA Games since the beginning and helped get these USA National Games started— Greg Epperson, President and Managing Director of Special Olympics North America. We explore the scale, mission, and impact of the Games; the history of Special Olympics; and why the 2026 USA Games matter right now. You’ll hear how this national event brings together thousands of athletes with intellectual disabilities and showcases the power of inclusion, competition, and community. This episode sets the stage for the athlete stories, behind‑the‑scenes insights, and powerful conversations coming throughout the series. Chapter Markers:  00:00 - Introduction 2:00 - Opening The Door 16:00 - Mission, Impact & Why It Matters 32:40 - A Brief History of Special Olympics 41:00 - Why 2026 Matters Right Now 56:00 - Closing 📱Follow the journey of 3,000 athletes by downloading the USA Games app — search “USA GAMES” in your app store. 👨‍💻Learn more about Special Olympics 2026 USA Games at: https://2026USAGames.org 🎧Follow the Podcast Series: Visit https://SpecialChronicles.com/2026USAGames for all episodes and subscribe to the full series. The post Road To 2026USA Games Ep.1: What Are The USA Games? first appeared on Special Chronicles.