Imagine a partnership between Special Olympics and high schools throughout Virginia. Imagine the opportunity for a student with an intellectual (or any) disability to play alongside his or her peers without disabilities in a Unified Sports team environment; to rely on each other, to communicate with each other, to believe in each other, to become Champions Together.
Imagine no more because Champions Together is here.
The first Champions Together Meet took place as part of Handley High School’s 74th Annual Handley Invitational Saturday, April 11. And 26 other high schools in Virginia have signed on to the new program, which is aimed at bringing together youth with and without disabilities to build the first unified generation - a generation where youth will build upon the friendships and life lessons learned through sports and the Special Olympics movement so, later in life, they will not be afraid to live, work and THRIVE alongside their peers with different ability levels.
In partnership with the Virginia High School League, Champions Together schools will form inclusive track and field teams this spring that will compete against other local high schools. Other components of the program include an inclusive student-led leadership team that will organize an awareness event to promote respect and inclusion, and promote philanthropy to support the future of the program. This new, young, energetic base of athletes and volunteers will eventually transition from the schools into our communities and help Special Olympics Virginia and the Virginia High School League continue to achieve our missions.
At Handley, the first Champions Together team took off in a 4x100 relay, as a crowd filled with students and families from more than 20 local schools cheered them on. For everyone, it was a goose bump moment.
“I have been running track meets for a long time and was the meet director for one of the biggest meets in the country for several years,” said Rick Lilly, Director of Student Activities at Handley. “Yet, the first Unified race we hosted at the 74th Handley Invitational was one of the most gratifying and fulfilling events I have ever witnessed. The way it brought together an entire stadium and track community was truly unbelievable.
“The incorporation of our unified students to our track program has really added a new and welcomed dimension that is refreshing and inclusive,” he said. “It has really opened up our athletes without disabilities to a new perspective and I have been really impressed with the way they have taken ownership in making the students with disabilities feel welcomed and supported. We are excited to continue to grow the program.”
Stay tuned for more details on Champions Together events, meets and opportunities. To get your school involved, visit our Champions Together page. We look forward to a great season of #playingunified!
