Teams from Butler University, the University of Notre Dame and Purdue University will compete against colleges from the country in the fourth annual Unified College Championship Week presented by Special Olympics and ESPN.
Unified College Championship Week is a competition where college students complete inclusive activities as a team, including Special Olympics Unified Sports such as basketball, cornhole and fitness. It also includes social activities such as talent shows, crafts and cooking – all while amplifying a message of inclusion through social media posts.
These activities bring together individuals with and without intellectual disabilities, leading to new friendships, mutual understanding and more inclusive opportunities in campus communities. Teams post activities during championship week on Instagram to earn points. The team with the most points at the end of the week is named the Unified National College Champion.
Championship week is April 8 through April 12. Results will be announced on Sunday, April 21.
Follow the teams through their Instagram accounts at @BASO_BU, @NDSpecialOlympics and @SpecialOlympicsPurdue. Follow @SONorthAmerica on Instagram and search the hashtag #SOCollegeChampWeek24 to see activities from all teams.
Special Olympics Unified Sports brings individuals with and without intellectual disabilities onto the same team, giving them opportunities to train together and play together. Unified Sports is an integral part of Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools — a strategy creating sports, leadership, and whole school engagement opportunities for students with and without ID. With sports at the foundation, Unified College Championship Week provides an opportunity for teammates to connect and compete together, building connections along the way.
Article courtesy of the Indiana Special Olympics