Special Olympics Connecticut Will Host Unified Sports® Holiday Classic November 22nd and 23rd

Special Olympics Connecticut will host its Annual Unified Sports® Holiday Classic presented by the Connecticut Elks Association on Saturday, November 22nd and Sunday, November 23rd. Throughout the weekend, more than 2,000 athletes of all abilities from across the state will compete in sports and participate in the Healthy Athletes® activities that will be offered throughout the weekend. Events at all Holiday Classic venues are open to the public and free to attend. For more information, visit soct.org, call 203-2301-201, or email specialolympicsct@soct.org. And, follow Special Olympics Connecticut on Facebook and Instagram.

Unified Sports® Holiday Classic sports, venues and times will include:

Bowling at Bowlero, 1717 Boston Post Road, Milford and AMF Circle Lanes, 525 Main Street, East Haven on Saturday and Sunday. Opening ceremonies on both days, at both venues will begin at 9 a.m. for the morning sessions and 1 p.m. for the afternoon sessions and competition and awards will follow from 9:15 a.m. to noon to 1:15 to 4:45 p.m.

Unified Sports® basketball at Quinnipiac University, 275 Mount Carmel Avenue in Hamden on Saturday and Sunday. Opening ceremonies on both days will take place at 8:45 a.m. and competition and awards will follow from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Powerlifting at Gleason Performance Training, 108 Central Street in Ansonia on Saturday only. The opening ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. and competition and awards will follow from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Unified Sports® volleyball at the JCC of Greater New Haven, 360 Amity Road in Woodbridge on Saturday only. The opening ceremony will take place at 8:45 a.m. and competition and awards will follow from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Through our Special Olympics Healthy Athletes® program, Strong Minds – activities to promote emotional well-being - and Special Smiles – dental screenings and education - will be offered to athletes at volleyball at the JCC on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. respectively. Injury Prevention Education will be offered at basketball at Quinnipiac University on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Special Smiles will also be offered at basketball on Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

All are invited and encouraged to come out and cheer on the athletes. The Special Olympics Unified Sports® program brings people with and without intellectual disabilities together on the same team to promote acceptance, opportunity and inclusion for all.

In addition to Presenting Sponsor, the Connecticut Elks Association, sponsors of the event include Gold Sponsors: Comcast and NBC Connecticut and Telemundo Connecticut, LAZ Parking Charitable Foundation, Quinnipiac University, and Synchrony. Silver Sponsors: Callahan’s Bowl-O-Rama; Bronze Sponsors: Gilbane, Gleason Performance Training, and Webster Bank; Supporting and Contributing Sponsors: Bigelow Tea and Lincoln Waste Solutions, and Media Sponsors: Hearst Connecticut Media Group and NBC Connecticut and Telemundo Connecticut.

About Special Olympics Connecticut

Special Olympics Connecticut provides year-round sports training and competition opportunities for nearly 14,000 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 200 countries around the world by promoting good health and fitness and inspiring inclusion and respect for people of all abilities, on and off the playing field. (www.soct.org)

Partner Sponsors: The Connecticut Elks Association, Enterprise, ESPN, Eversource, Foxwoods Resort Casino, the Knights of Columbus, the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics Connecticut, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, the Mohegan Tribe, NBC Connecticut and Telemundo Connecticut, Pratt & Whitney, and Webster Bank.

Year-Round Suppliers: Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast, Hearst Connecticut Media Group, N&D Sports, Pepperidge Farm, and WORX.