Special Olympics Events Coming To Berner Middle School This May, Town Announces

MASSAPEQUA, NY — The Massapequa School District will play host to Special Olympic track and field events May 2, bringing over 700 athletes and 300 coaches to Berner Middle School for a day of competition, Oyster Bay Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino announced Thursday.

First held in 1968, the Special Olympics were founded by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the sister of former U.S. President John F. Kennedy and Rosemary Kennedy, who was born with an intellectual disability. According to the Special Olympics, Eunice and Rosemary grew up playing sports together, which led Eunice to work for the creation of the Special Olympics in an effort to give people with disabilities, like Rosemary, the chance to compete in sports. To date, the organization says over 4 million athletes have competed in the Special Olympics in some form or another.

58 years after they were first held, the Special Olympics event will start at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 2, bringing months of training to a head for an ensemble of children and adults in what the town supervisor called a “wonderful opportunity.”

“The Special Olympic Spring Games provide a wonderful opportunity to showcase the hard work, dedication, talents, and tremendous athletic achievements of these special athletes, while also paving the way to eliminate social barriers and stereotypes differently-abled individuals face,” Saladino said. “The Town of Oyster Bay is very proud to be a partner with Special Olympics New York and thank the Massapequa School District for their assistance in making this year’s event a great success.”

For Massapequa School District officials, the partnership with the Special Olympics is an opportunity for students and community members to see the incredible abilities of the Special Olympic athletes.

“We are honored to host the Special Olympics New York Spring Games and to partner with Special Olympics New York and the Town of Oyster Bay to make this event possible,” Massapequa School District Superintendent Dr. William Brennan said. “This is a wonderful opportunity for our students and community to witness firsthand the power of sports to inspire, unite and celebrate the abilities of all individuals.”