For the first time in Hawai‘i, teams consisting of regular and special education
students will compete alongside one another at the state level
HONOLULU – For the first time in the state’s history high school students of all ability levels are racing to the track to compete in this year’s Island Movers Track and Field State Championships. Thirteen teams consisting of two regular education and two special education students are scheduled to compete in the Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association’s (HHSAA) first-ever Unified Division. The 59th annual event will take place this Friday and Saturday, May 15-16, 2015 at the War Memorial Stadium on Maui.
“We are excited to welcome and celebrate the well-earned accomplishments of our Unified athletes,” said Chris Chun, HHSAA executive director. “Sports is an opportunity for individuals of all backgrounds to be able to come together over something that they love – competition. We could not be more proud to see these athletes who have trained over the last few months recognized for their hard work.”
Unified Teams will compete against one another in two events, the Unified 4 x 100 meter relay and the Unified 4 x 400 meter relay. Teams have been training since March and competed in Special Olympic Hawai‘i’s Area Games in April. The Unified teams represent seven participating Project UNIFY high schools from O‘ahu, Kaua‘i and the Big Island including:
- Farrington High School
- Hilo High School
- Kailua High School
- Kaimuki High School
- Kapa‘a High School
- Kaua‘i High School
- Waiakea High School
“This weekend’s competition is a huge step in helping Special Olympics Hawai‘i further its mission of leveling the playing field and creating opportunities of acceptance and inclusion for our athletes with intellectual disabilities,” said Nancy Bottelo, Special Olympics Hawai‘i president and CEO. “For any athlete – but especially for Special Olympics athletes and their families -- competing in a high school state championship is typically something they can only dream about. But thanks to a strong partnership with the Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association and their support, this weekend we are thrilled to see that dream become a reality.”
Project UNIFY is a program through Special Olympics which works to promote friendship and respect between people with and without intellectual disabilities and positive attitudes towards people with intellectual disabilities through sports.
For more information on Special Olympics Hawai‘i please contact 808-695-3524 or visit
www.specialolympicshawaii.org. Also, follow Special Olympics Hawai‘i on Twitter at
www.twitter.com/sohawaii, on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/SpecialOlympicsHawaii, and on Instagram at
www.instagram.com/sohawaii.
About Special Olympics Hawai‘i
Special Olympics unleashes the human spirit through the transformative power and joy of sports everyday in Hawai‘i. Through work in sports, health education and community building, Special Olympics is addressing inactivity, injustice, intolerance and social isolation by encouraging and empowering people with intellectual disabilities which leads to a more welcoming and inclusive society.
Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the Hawai‘i Special Olympics movement has grown from a handful of athletes to more than 3,900 participants across the state. With the support of more than 7,500 coaches and volunteers, Special Olympics is able to deliver nine Olympic-type sports and more than 40 competitions throughout the year. There is never a fee for any athlete or family to participate in Special Olympics programs. For more information visit
www.specialolympicshawaii.org.
About the HHSAA
Founded in 1956, the Hawaii High School Athletic Association is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) educational athletic organization exclusively dedicated to serving 97 public and independent member high schools statewide, as they work cooperatively to support and promote athletics as part of the high school education program. As the umbrella organization of high school athletics, the HHSAA operates 44 state championships in 18 different sports, establishing consistent standards and rules for competition, in addition to providing professional development opportunities for coaches and athletic administrators.
For more information on the Hawaii High School Athletic Association, go to
www.sportshigh.com.
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