Special Olympics Illinois Basketball Tips Off Saturday at Marist HS

Special Olympics Illinois basketball teams will compete Saturday morning to advance at Marist High School, the area host for teams in the senior divisions vying for placement in the state basketball finals competition at Illinois State University in March of 2023.

“The need is greater by the day to increase Special Olympic resources in Chicago,” said Dave Breen, Special Olympic Illinois President and CEO. “Our gratitude goes out to Marist High School officials and administration for recognizing need and opening the doors to our hundreds of basketball players and their families.”

Special Olympics Illinois provides a spectrum of program choices for people with intellectual disabilities or closely related developmental disabilities. Athletes train for a minimum of eight weeks before competing. Special Olympics Illinois provides opportunities in 18 different sports. Everyday, Special Olympics Illinois provides this opportunity to compete to more than 23,000 athletes and 13,000 Young Athletes.

Basketball has been one of the most popular sports in Illinois, providing competition for both teams and individuals. Five-on-five team competition is available in Junior, High School and in levels of Senior Male, Senior Female and co-ed age groups. Individuals compete in the Basketball Individual Skills Competition to develop basic basketball skills. Events include the Target Pass, 10 Meter Dribble and Spot Shot events.

Special Olympic Illinois basketball was first introduced in 1975. Basketball became an officially recognized sport of Special Olympics at the third Special Olympics International Games in Chicago in 1972.

“Basketball fanatics in Chicago and Illinois are some of our biggest supporters behind the scenes and during the games played,” said Mount Greenwood resident Melissa Garritano, Managing Director of Region D, encompassing Chicago.

“The senior teams have their own fan-base followings so it brings a certain zest to the games and we fully expect that at Marist, given the huge support that we enjoy from the Mount Greenwood community and Beverly/Morgan Park.”

Games begin at 9:30 a.m. and run through the 1 p.m. hour in Marist’s three gyms.

Special Olympics Illinois’ mission includes growing its “inclusive” efforts throughout Chicagoland in coordination with Special Olympics North America Unified Champion City Schools (UCCS), which brings a focused approach to amplify the essential elements of Unified Champion Schools (UCS) within city school districts. UCS utilizes three interconnected components for social inclusion in schools:

o Special Olympics Unified Sports® (joins people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team)

o Inclusive Youth Leadership (when young people of all abilities are given opportunities to be leaders in their schools and communities)

o Whole-school engagement (creates a school climate that fosters understanding and respect for all and can influence how students think and act within and beyond the school)

About Special Olympics

Special Olympics Illinois is a not-for-profit sports organization offering year-round training and competition in 18 sports for more than 23,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities and 13,000 Young Athletes ages 2-7 with and without intellectual disabilities.

It strives to be a global leader in shaping a culture where people with and without intellectual disabilities are fully integrated into the community by providing year round opportunities in competitive sports, health education, leadership and personal development. Those interested in being a part of Special Olympics Illinois and its vision, can contact a local region, or call headquarters at 800-394-0562 or visit the website at www.soill.org.

Follow Special Olympics Illinois on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Special Olympics Illinois is the only entity in Illinois accredited by Special Olympics, Inc. and authorized by license to use the Special OlympicsTM trademark and logo. Any other entity that identifies itself as a “Special Olympics” organization in Illinois is not accredited by Special Olympics, Inc.