MIAMI (May 17, 2024) – Today, Brightline teamed up with Special Olympics Florida and Orlando Health to host more than 180 athletes, coaches and volunteers heading to the State Summer Games in Orlando. The group received an inspiring send-off at Brightline MiamiCentral and warm welcome at the Brightline Orlando Station in partnership with Orlando Health to cheer them on for a weekend of competition.

 

“Brightline is about connecting communities, and we’re excited to host the nearly 200 athletes, coaches and volunteers traveling this weekend,” said Johanna Rojas, senior vice president of partnerships and sales at Brightline. “Collaborating with Orlando Health and Special Olympics Florida amplifies public awareness of the Special Olympics program and celebrates diversity within our communities.”

 

Athletes traveling to the State Summer Games were able to relax on board and prepare for the competition. Each Brightline station is ADA accessible and equipped with elevators and escalators to access the lounge and station platforms. Brightline trains have been designed to maximize accessibility and with interior aisles wider than any other train and level boarding, utilizing a “gap filler” that literally bridges the gap and height change between the train and platform. Thanks to wide aisles, wheelchair storage and fully accessible restrooms, the trainsets exceed ADA requirements from end to end.

 

“We are so grateful to Brightline and Orlando Health for creating such an incredible experience for our athletes participating in the State Summer Games,” said Special Olympics Florida President and CEO Sherry Wheelock. “Traveling with their friends, family, and teammates to the Games on Brightline’s state-of-the-art trains is an unforgettable memory that the athletes will carry with them throughout their lives.”

 

“Orlando Health is proud to partner with Special Olympics Florida and Brightline to welcome these talented athletes as they begin their journey to greatness at the State Summer Games in Central Florida,” said Cary D’Ortona, President, Orlando Health Medical Group and Vice Chair, Board of Directors Special Olympics Florida. “It demonstrates our commitment to these competitors who count on Orlando Health for their care during the Games and beyond.”

 

The State Summer Games is the biggest event on the Special Olympics Florida sports calendar with more than 2,300 athletes from around the state traveling to compete in seven different sports at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and USTA National Campus.

 

Brightline's partnership with Special Olympics Florida and Orlando Health reflects a shared commitment to inclusivity and community support. Accessing healthcare and transportation can be challenging for people with intellectual disabilities, and this collaboration highlights how Brightline, Orlando Health, and Special Olympics Florida are working together to provide athletes with essential services. Once at the games, athletes will receive free health screenings provided by Orlando Health.

 

The athletes, coaches and volunteers traveled to the State Summer Games in Orlando leaving from Miami along with Brightline stations in Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach. Teammates and volunteers cheered them on as they departed South Florida, and food and refreshments were graciously donated by Pepsi, Zuma & Sons and Cheney Brothers. The athletes will return to South Florida via Brightline on Saturday.

 

For more information on the State Summer Games visit https://www.specialolympicsflorida.org/events and for Brightline, visit www.gobrightline.com.

 

–GOBRIGHTLINE–

 

ABOUT BRIGHTLINE

Brightline seamlessly connects travelers to top destinations and major events between Central and South Florida. The company serves Miami, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton, West Palm Beach, and Orlando with future stops in Stuart and Cocoa. Brightline is recognized by Inc. 5000 Regionals as one of the fastest-growing private companies in the Southeast for 2023 and is one of the World’s 50 Most Innovative by Fast Company in 2024. Brightline offers a guest-first experience designed to reinvent train travel and take cars off the road. The company plans to bring its award-winning service to additional city pairs and congested corridors across the country that are too close to fly and too long to drive, with immediate plans to connect Las Vegas to Southern California. For more information, visit www.gobrightline.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and X.

 

CONTACTS:

Brightline

Vanessa Alfonso, Director Media Relations
vanessa.alfonso@gobrightline.com

 

Michael Hicks, Onsite contact and media relations
mhicks@bltrain.com

 

Special Olympics

Jim Stratton, communications director, Special Olympics Florida
jimstratton@sofl.org

 

On-site contact

Linsey Smith, chief development and marketing officer, Special Olympics Florida
LinseySmith@sofl.org