Winter Games 2023 Press Conference

Special Olympics Texas Winter Games 2023 Press Conference was held at Sonesta Bee Cave Hotel on Tuesday, December 13th, 2022, from 10:00-11:00 am. The event was emceed by Mark Calaway, better known as “the Undertaker,” and his wife, Michelle McCool-Calaway. The conference celebrated Winter Games returning to Bee Cave and Lakeway for the second year in a row and informed the public about what to expect from this year’s Games.

Mark and Michelle led the conference and spoke about their love and dedication to serving our athletes. They discussed their passion for supporting the movement toward inclusion and the effect that Special Olympics has had on them personally. Mayor of Bee Cave Kara King and Mayor of Lakeway Thomas Kilgore also spoke at the event alongside crucial law enforcement officers within the two communities, performer Kelley Jakle, and a Special Olympics Texas athlete, Matthew Wells. Matthew shared his journey with Special Olympics and how participation as a SOTX athlete has changed his life. Matthew now serves as a Global Messenger and has become a leader and role model for Texas athletes. 

Special Olympics Texas CEO Tim Martin also announced our 2023 State Leadership Conference to be held during Winter Games on February 16-19th in Lakeway, Texas. The Conference will consist of LETR, Unified Champion Schools®, and other partners speaking of their experiences with Special Olympics Texas and how we can improve and find new ways to connect to our communities. 

Take a look at this year’s conference photos to see smiling faces from Mark Calaway (the Undertaker) and Michelle McCool-Calaway, law enforcement, SOTX staff, and of course, our athletes! This is only a glimpse into all the excitement at this year’s Winter Games 2023!