More than 400 athletes will travel to the Shoalhaven from all over the state for the event, competing in football, basketball, swimming, tennis and golf in one action-packed weekend.

Shoalhaven Mayor Paul Green said the state games would provide a tremendous tourism boost to the entire region.

“With over 400 competitors and plenty of spectators coming to the area this event will provide a fantastic opportunity to showcase the many tourism destinations and high class facilities the Shoalhaven has to offer,” Cr Green said.

“The Special Olympics is a fantastic organisation providing people with an intellectual disability a sporting pathway to regional, state, national and international competitions.

“I would encourage local residents to get down to one of the participating venues and support the competing athletes.

“These athletes train extremely hard and are tremendously competitive so each and every event will be hotly contested and is a must see spectacle.”

Special Olympics NSW board chairperson, Peter Wren, also encouraged local residents to take in some of the action saying the state games promised to offer a host of exciting action.

“We are really excited to be coming to the Shoalhaven, it is a lovely place and we are looking forward to showcasing the ways in which sport can improve the lives of the intellectually disabled,” Mr Wren said.

“Leading up to the games we will be promoting the areas where all the action can be seen and I am sure the Shoalhaven community will welcome the Special Olympics and help us put on a fantastic games.

“There will be opportunities for the community to be involved in a variety of volunteer roles and I am sure that this will be a truly rewarding experience,” Mr Wren said.

He said there were sponsorship and commercial opportunities for local business to partner in these games, and further information could be obtained from Special Olympics NSW sponsorship and fundraising manager David Streichler on 0428 038 311.

The NSW Special Olympics is the latest in a growing list of sporting events coming to the Shoalhaven.

Other events scheduled to take part in the local area include the professional athletics event the Shoalhaven City Gift at the Nowra Showground in March, which is expected to attract more than 300 competitors plus spectators.

Also in April in the days leading up to the Special Olympics, the Shoalhaven will host the Baseball NSW State Little League titles attracting about 600 people to the area over four days.

Then in August there will be the 2012 Bowls NSW State Pennant Finals at the Bomaderry Bowling Club, bringing to the region an estimated 220 people over three days.

A NSW Little Athletics cross-country event and a state little athletics conference with 250 delegates are also expected to be staged in the Shoalhaven during 2012, along with additional events expected to be announced in coming weeks.

The Special Olympics at Shoalhaven were officially launched recently with a function at Ison Park, attended by Special Olympics basketballers Tahlia Henson of Kiama and Lisa Keen of Mount Warrigal.

Ms Keen was a member of the Australian women’s basketball team that won back to back Special Olympics gold medals at the games in Shanghai in 2007 and Athens earlier this year, on both occasions beating Russia.