UAlbany, Special Olympics Team Up to Celebrate Unified Sports
ALBANY, N.Y. (April 6, 2023) — Athletes from the Capital Region Special Olympics community and students from UAlbany are teaming up to celebrate unified sports on April 18.
As described by Kyle Massa, the director of digital engagement at Special Olympics of New York, Unified Sports leagues “are one of the most impactful vehicles for change in the Special Olympics movement.”
The concept is simple: in Unified Sports, athletes with and without disabilities compete on the same teams in sports such as flag football, tennis, soccer and basketball.
The leagues, which follow Special Olympics International rules in partnership with the National Intramural Recreation Sports Association, provide an environment that builds a foundation of teamwork, competition and friendship.
While most programs have developed at the K-12 level, the Unified Sports program at UAlbany — now in its fifth year — serves as a blueprint for how it can be done at colleges and universities around the nation.
“It’s really rewarding, being able to directly interact with the athletes and hear their stories,” said senior Corey Nilon, who has served as president of UAlbany’s Special Olympics Club since his sophomore year. “Sports has a unique way of bringing us all together.”
In this year’s event, Special Olympic athletes and UAlbany students have been competing in a season long basketball competition.
On April 18, athletes and students will showcase their individual skills before competing in the Unified Sports Championship game.
Students, staff, family, friends and the community are invited to join in the fun by cheering on the athletes and their UAlbany partners on April 18 from 7:30-9:30 p.m. in the Physical Education building.