SPECIAL OLYMPICS VIRGINIA FALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS IN VIRGINIA BEACH NOVEMBER 5-6

More than 700 Special Olympics athletes from Virginia will compete in roller skating, soccer, unified bowling, equestrian and volleyball when the City of Virginia Beach hosts the 18th annual Fall Championships on Saturday and Sunday, November 5-6 at various city locations.

The Fall Championships are the second largest of five state-level competitions Special Olympics Virginia holds each year. Athletes of all ages and ability levels will go for the gold as they compete against their peers in these favorite fall sports.

The Fall Championships, presented by the Virginia Knights of Columbus and COX Communications, will begin with an Opening Ceremony at Ocean Lakes High School on November 5 at 8 p.m. The opening ceremony will feature musical entertainment, athlete speakers, and the Old Dominion University cheerleaders, along with the traditional lighting of the Olympic caldron. A dance for the athletes and volunteers will follow in the school’s cafeteria.

Sports competition will begin early on Sunday morning, with roller skating at the Haygood Roller Skating Center, soccer at the Hampton Roads Soccer Complex, volleyball at the Tidewater Volleyball Club, equestrian at Equikids, and unified bowling taking place at Pinboy’s. Unified bowling is an inclusive program that combines partners with and without disabilities on the same team for training and competition. Please see attached page for a more detailed schedule of events.

The 2005 Fall Championships are presented by the Virginia Knights of Columbus and COX Communications, and are hosted by the City of Virginia Beach.

Special Olympics Virginia provides year-round sports training and athletic competition to thousands of children and adult athletes with mental disabilities. The organization receives no federal funding and relies on private and corporate support as well as the efforts of nearly 20,000 volunteers who provide these services at no cost to the athletes or their families.

For more information please call (800) 932-GOLD or click on www.specialolympicsva.com.

Event Guide

SPECIAL OLYMPICS VIRGINIA
2005 FALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Saturday & Sunday, November 5-6
Virginia Beach

OPENING CEREMONY & DANCE Ocean Lakes High School
Saturday, November 5 8:00 – 10:30 p.m.
The excitement of the Fall Championships begins with the pageantry of a traditional opening ceremony complete with a recital of the Special Olympics oath and the lighting of the Olympic flame.

COMPETITION
   Sunday, November 6 7:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Roller Skating.......................... Haygood Roller Skating Center
   Sunday, November 6 9:00 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Soccer.................................. Hampton Roads Soccer Complex
Golf....................................... First Tee of Hampton Roads
Bowling................................ Pinboy’s
Equestrian............................ EquiKids
Volleyball............................. Tidewater Volleyball Club
The Fall Championships are the second largest of five state-level competitions Special Olympics Virginia holds each year. Athletes of all ages and ability levels will go for the gold as they compete against their peers in these favorite fall sports.
Presented by: Virginia Knights of Columbus and Cox Communications
For more information call, 1-800-932-GOLD or visit www.specialolympicsva.org
TOTAL NUMBER OF ATHLETES: Nearly 800

Special Olympics Virginia Inc. w 3212 Skipwith Road, Suite 100 w Richmond, Virginia 23294 w (804) 346-5544 Created by The Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. Foundation for the Benefit of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities