Special Olympics cuts competitions, costs in many states due to low sponsorhip, fundraising

Funding cuts force Special Olympics to ax events

INDIANAPOLIS — A lull in sponsorship and fundraising has caused Special Olympics affiliates in several states to cut administrative costs and athletic events.

The poor economy has led affiliates in Indiana, California, Oregon, Tennessee, North Dakota and other states to cancel or scale back their athletic events for the mentally disabled. Some states have had to cut staff.

Financial woes led the Northern California branch to cut snowboarding and skiing events from its winter games lineup. And Oregon for a second straight year doesn’t plan to stage its games.

Washington, D.C.-based Special Olympics Inc. saw its year-end assets fall 33 percent to $58.4 million in 2008 from $87.8 million in 2007.