2015 Special Olympics North America Softball Invitational Tournament Concludes

2015 Special Olympics North America Softball Invitational Tournament Concludes
28/09/2015

The Special Olympics North America Softball Invitational Tournament was held in Wichita, Kan. from September 24-27. This was the first time this international tournament has been held in Kansas. More than 430 Special Olympics athletes, representing 30 teams from 14 U.S. and Canadian Special Olympics Programs, competed.

By Amie Dugan, Special Olympics North America

The Special Olympics North America Softball Invitational Tournament was held in Wichita, Kan. from September 24-27. This was the first time this international tournament has been held in Kansas. More than 430 Special Olympics athletes, representing 30 teams from 14 U.S. and Canadian Special Olympics Programs, competed.

The event kicked off at Lawrence Dumont Stadium with an Opening Ceremony featuring a parade of athletes, dignitaries, inspiring remarks by Chief Richard LaMunyon (retired, Wichita PD), the founder of the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics, fireworks and a dance.

The Softball Invitational happened to occur during Special Olympics’ annual “Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day” on Saturday, September 26 – a global day of celebration to mark the legacy, vision, and continuing work of Special Olympics’ Founder – and ceremony attendees saw a special video message from Tim Shriver, Chairman, Special Olympics and son of Eunice Kennedy Shriver.

Competition was held at South Lakes Softball Complex for three days, with medal rounds held on Sunday, September 27. There were 17 traditional Special Olympics teams (comprised entirely of athletes with intellectual disability) and 13 Special Olympics Unified Sports teams (where people with and without intellectual disabilities play on the same team, as teammates) that competed.

Each year, USA Softball officials and umpires from across the country volunteer their time and expertise to officiate the tournament, as part of Special Olympics’ commitment to providing high quality competitive experiences to its athletes. Each year, scores of officials apply to USA Softball in hopes of landing one of only 24 officiating roles available.

As umpire Lisa DiLullo of Connecticut said, “Most Special Olympics sports officials get hooked with the first game and return many times, drawn by deep appreciation for the program and love for the athletes. We umpires pay our own expenses for the tournament, and receive no game fees. And the hundreds of volunteers who staff these events aren’t paid either. Is it worth it? Yes, yes, a thousand times yes.”

Special Olympics Kansas President and CEO Chris Hahn said, “Special Olympics is a global movement with more than 4.4 million athletes globally, and more than 5,400 of them are right here in Kansas. This was an extremely rare opportunity for Kansans to see Special Olympics athletes from an array of states and nations compete at the highest levels and be inspired by the power and pure joy of sport.”

The Tournament was made possible due to the generosity of presenting sponsor Moose International, as well USA Softball, High Touch Technologies, Special Olympics Kansas, the Coca-Cola Company, and the many local volunteers who helped support the event.

The 2016 Special Olympics North America Softball Invitational Tournament is slated to be held in Pennsylvania.

Photos and results from the Special Olympics North America Softball Invitational are available on Facebook.

Softball emphasizes teamwork, physical fitness and strategic thinking – benefits and skills found on the playing field that Special Olympics athletes use as part of being active, contributing members of their communities. Currently, more than 94,000 Special Olympics athletes are participating in the sport globally, 65,000 of who participate in North America. Special Olympics is always in need of qualified coaches, so if you love softball and would like to learn more about volunteering where you live, find your local Special Olympics Program by visiting www.specialolympics.org.