Mahoning Public and the Mahoning County Special Olympics program are merging together to offer one hub for all athletes.

“Coming together is going to help us create more opportunities for our athletes and maintain the programs that are already going,” Shannon Arcade, a Coordinator for the Mahoning County Special Olympics, said.

The two groups put on athletic programs like bowling, track, bocce and more for those with disabilities or handicaps.

“I never got to do any of these sports in high school so I feel like it's another next opportunity for me to do all these kinds of sports, ” Elizabeth Opincarne, a Special Olympics athlete for Bowling and Bocce said.

But the idea of bringing everyone together is getting some push back.

“We've been slighted, it was done behind or back,” Diane Lane, who is with the Mahoning County Public Special Olympics said. “...don't use the word merger when you didn't even speak with us.”

Mahoning Public wants to stay as two separate groups but has been ordered to dissolve by the state of Ohio. 

Lane said if her 80 athletes merge with the county's 100 athletes, events like bowling would be too crowded. She also added that they have carefully crafted their schedules for events around work and school for their athletes so they can participate and feels they won’t be able to do that if they merge.

Lane claimed all of their funding has been given to the new joint program, even though some was fundraised by athletes who won't be a part of it.

“They did not donate that money because we are a part of Ohio state … for me it's because of our children that is in this organization that we raised this money,” Halia Churilla, a parent of a Special Olympics Athlete and Assistant Bowling Coach for Mahoning Public said. 

Lane said Mahoning Public had $180,000 in funds to put on activities for athletes. She said they only have enough money to pay for their winter sport, bowling, for the next five weeks. Lane added that they had to cancel their annual banquet for the athletes because of the lack of funding.

Lane said the majority of Mahoning Publics athletes will not be agreeing to the merger. They plan to start their own, new, independent program instead.

“We will not be the Special Olympics and we will have no funding but there's always a way,” Lane said. 

Those in favor of the merger said they will welcome any of the athletes into the new group. Arcade said they will be expanding the new group with more sports and more time slots for games in 2026.

“We’ll be able to make a much much stronger, much bigger program in Mahoning County for our athletes,” Arcade said. 

The one program called the Mahoning County Special Olympics will become official in March.