The Southern California chapter of the Special Olympics has chosen California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) as its host site for the Summer Games through 2017, Southern California’s largest competition of the year, officials of both organizations announced Thursday.

A press release notes this year’s hosting of the Summer Games is the first time the Special Olympics has returned to CSULB since 2013. CSULB had previously hosted the games every year from 1998 to 2013.

“The Summer Games is such a unique and wonderful event that has been embraced by so many members of the Long Beach community each year, and we are thrilled that it will continue to take place at The Beach,” said CSULB President Jane Close Conoley in a statement. “We look forward to welcoming the thousands of athletes, their families and guests who truly embody the university’s ‘can do’ attitude.”

More than 1,100 athletes and coaches will attend this year’s Summer Games, to take place June 13 to 14 at CSULB. The release states that this year’s event will be the first to take place on the university’s newly renovated track. Over 2,000 volunteers will help at the games.

The CSULB-Special Olympics partnership also encompasses internships and career opportunities for students. According to the release, 57 students from CSULB’s sports management graduate program have either advanced to internships or full-time positions within the Special Olympics or the Special Olympics Summer Games.

“I can’t think of a better and more hospitable environment to host the Summer Games than at Cal State Long Beach,” said Bill Shumard, president and CEO of Special Olympics Southern California and an alumnus of CSULB in a statement. “The university has been an incredible partner for almost twenty years, and we look forward to an even stronger relationship over the next several years.”

For more information about the Summer Games, click here. To learn more about becoming involved with the Special Olympics, which began in 1969, click here.

Above left: file photo.