It is the dream of many children to grow up and be a professional athlete. Some get the chance to live out their dream but many don't. The Special Olympics organization gives athletes facing intellectual disabilities the same opportunities in sports their peers have. One way in which the organization does this is through Unified Sports.
Special Olympics Unified Sports® is a program that brings together athletes with intellectual disabilities and their peers without intellectual disabilities (called partners) on the same team for training and competition. Age and ability matching of athletes and partners is defined on a sport-by-sport basis.
This past weekend Special Olympics Kansas sent a Unified Team comprised of athletes from five local high schools to NYC to take part in an Exchange Game with Special Olympics New Jersey. Exchange Games are a new initiative from MLS WORKS, the league’s Community Relations arm, and has many MLS teams participating around the league. Each game features Unified Teams from the local Special Olympics chapters and takes place immediately following the professional game on the field.
The Kansas athletes arrived a day before their big game and MLS WORKS and Sporting KC staff had a couple surprises in store. For many of the athletes it was their first trip to NYC so after checking into the team hotel, the group made their way to Yankee Stadium to watch the Kansas City Royals take on the New York Yankees. Throughout the game, the Royals Network graciously featured live shots of the group which aired back in Kansas City. On Saturday morning, the group visited several iconic New York sights including Times Square, the New York City Public Library and the Empire State Building.
When game time arrived on Saturday the athletes entered Red Bull Arena and were announced during pregame to the crowd which included over 200 Sporting KC traveling fans. The team watched the first half of play before heading to their locker room which had been pre-set with full team kits in a manner that reflects what their professional counterparts would experience. After exchanging gifts and good luck cards, which is a Special Olympics tradition to encourage good sportsmanship, the teams were announced and the exchange match began. With the support of the ever-present #Roaddron the athletes played their hearts out and were able to experience what it was like to be a professional athlete.
Following the match, shortened by bad weather, the players were given a commemorative medal during a ceremony conducted by Marc de Grandpre of the NY Red Bulls.
“It is important for games like this to happen so we can spread the word that everyone is equal and it shouldn't matter what disabilities you have because we play as a team,” said partner athlete Dessire Balderas.
