Torch run, hundreds of athletes highlight Buncombe County Special Olympics games

A torch run from local law enforcement helped open the second half of Buncombe County’s Special Olympics Spring Games at A.C. Reynolds High School, where hundreds of athletes gathered Thursday for a day built as much around support as competition. The ceremony gave the event a public, celebratory edge, but the larger story was the countywide network required to make the games happen.

The 2026 Spring Games were split between Thursday, May 7 at T.C. Roberson High School and Thursday, May 21 at A.C. Reynolds, with opening ceremonies at 9:30 a.m. both days. County officials said more than 600 local athletes were ready to participate, a scale that turns the games into one of Buncombe County’s biggest recurring inclusion events rather than a single school meet.

Special Olympics Buncombe County and Buncombe County Parks & Recreation presented the games in partnership with Buncombe County Public Schools, Asheville City Schools and Asheville Parks and Recreation. Chick-fil-A served as title sponsor, and six Buncombe County operators provided about 2,100 lunches for athletes, volunteers, buddies, teachers and chaperones. That kind of logistical lift matters: the food, transportation support and campus coordination are what allow athletes with intellectual disabilities to compete in a setting built around dignity and access.

Special Olympics Buncombe County says it is sponsored by Buncombe County Recreation Services and serves nearly 480 children and adults with intellectual disabilities across the county. Its athletes train and compete year-round in 11 sports, including bocce, swimming, basketball, golf, cheerleading, soccer, bowling, gymnastics, skiing and snowboarding. A new Unified soccer team was part of this spring’s program, adding another avenue for athletes to compete alongside peers.

The torch runs were facilitated by the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office and Asheville Police Department, with officers joined by the State Bureau of Investigation. The Law Enforcement Torch Run is designed to raise awareness and funds for the Special Olympics movement, and in Buncombe County it also helped reinforce the public partnerships behind the games.

The spring event has been a major local gathering for years. In 2023, more than 300 athletes ages 8 and older competed at T.C. Roberson in traditional track and field, wheelchair events and developmental events, with buddies bringing total participation to more than 600 people. This year’s turnout showed that tradition has only grown, with schools, officers, volunteers and families turning the games into a countywide support system for athletes who train, compete and are recognized for what they can do.