PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Debbie Horne Cell 203-889-6002; Email [email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Special Olympics to Host Annual Unified Sports® Holiday Classic, November 18 & 19

November 1, 2017 – Special Olympics will host its Unified Sports® Holiday Classic, presented by the Connecticut Elks Association, on Saturday, November 18th and Sunday, November 19th. All are invited to come out and cheer on the teammates of all abilities who will compete in , volleyball, powerlifting and bowling. Events will take place at venues in New Haven County 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. There is no cost to attend. For more information and to find out about volunteer opportunities, visit www.soct.org, call 203-230-1201 or email [email protected]. And, follow Special Olympics Connecticut on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Sports and locations include:

• Unified Sports® Basketball at Quinnipiac University, 275 Mount Carmel Avenue, Hamden and Hamden Hall Country Day School Skiff Street Athletic Complex, 225 Skiff Street, Hamden

• Traditional and Unified Sports® Bowling at Bowlero, 1717 Boston Post Road, Milford and AMF Circle Lanes, 525 Main Street, East Haven

• Traditional and Unified Sports® Powerlifting at High School, 480 Sherman Parkway, New Haven (Saturday only)

• Unified Sports® Volleyball at Athletic Center, 480 Sherman Parkway, New Haven

More than 2,400 athletes and Unified partners (their teammates without intellectual disabilities) who will have completed a minimum of eight weeks of practice in their respective sport, are expected to participate. Additionally, 500 coaches and more than 800 volunteers will support the event.

In addition to the Connecticut Elks Association, sponsors include Quinnipiac University – a Gold Sponsor; Comcast and NBC Connecticut, IBM, LAZ Parking Charitable Foundation, Synchrony Financial and Webster Bank – Bronze Sponsors; Beltone and Bigelow Tea – Contributing Sponsors and the New Haven Register, NBC Connecticut and iHeart Radio Connecticut – Media Sponsors.

About Special Olympics Connecticut Special Olympics Connecticut provides year-round sports training and competitions for over 13,000 athletes of all ages with intellectual disabilities and Unified Sports® partners - their teammates without disabilities. Through the joy of sport, the Special Olympics movement transforms lives and communities throughout the state and in 172 countries around the world by promoting good health and fitness and inspiring inclusion and respect for all people, on and off the playing field. (www.soct.org)

Partner Sponsors: Adams Hometown Markets/IGA Hometown Supermarkets, Dream Ride, ESPN, Eversource Energy, The Golisano Foundation, Law Enforcement Torch Run, NBC Connecticut, TD Bank, United Technologies and WWE. Year-Round Suppliers: Adams Hometown Markets/IGA Hometown Supermarkets, Campus Customs, The Coca-Cola Company, Connecticut Portable Storage/PODS, Crystal Rock Water and Coffee Company, Dunkin’ Donuts, Guida’s Milk and Ice Cream, Lamar Outdoor Advertising, Marcus Communications, State of Connecticut Judicial Branch Community Service and WORX. --###--