Special Olympics returns to Villanova this weekend
RADNOR » Special Olympics Pennsylvania’s Fall Festival returns to Villanova University for the 29th consecutive year from Nov. 10-12, welcoming approximately 1,200 coaches, athletes and Unified Partners representing 40 Pennsylvania county programs. Participants will compete in bocce, long distance running/walking, powerlifting, roller skating, soccer (individual skills, 5-versus-5, 7-v-7, 11-v11), and volleyball (team and individual skills).
For the 2017 festival, Villanova’s campus at 800 E. Lancaster Ave. takes an “Adventure through Time” with a campus-wide theme that celebrates Special Olympics’ timeless victories. A Unified Fall Festival Torch Run will kick the weekend off at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia followed by opening ceremonies in Villanova Stadium with live entertainment including Melmark’s hand-bell choir, the Joybells, the Villanova Dance Company, and the Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleaders. In addition, the weekend will offer Healthy Athletes screenings; an “Olympic Town” festival providing athlete activities in-between sporting events; a Victory Dance; and closing ceremonies.
Special Olympics Pennsylvania’s Fall Festival is regarded as the largest university student-run Special Olympics event in the world led by Villanova University’s Special Olympics Committee that assists SOPA in the event organization. The university also donates all of its facilities and serves as the event’s principle volunteer base under the leadership of this year’s director Hannah Durnin, a student who served as finance assistant and fundraising chair in the past. Durnin heads the over 100-person student committee.
For Elizabeth Buonomo, Class of 2018, the athletes are what drew her to join the Special Olympics Committee and attend practices, invitationals and tournaments throughout the year. “Fall Festival allows the athletes to demonstrate the amazing abilities and talents they have to the world,” she said. “Being on Special Olympics has provided me to fulfill my passion of serving the athletes as well as learn from what these incredible athletes have to teach me.”
It was an encounter with one athlete that led Elizabeth Otterbein, Class of 2019, to get more involved with the organization. “I met Patrick for the first time during EKS (Eunice Kennedy Shriver Day, commemorating the Special Olympics founder) when we were on our way to the soccer field.” Patrick pulled Otterbein aside and said loved all Villanova students and thanked her. “Later that morning, I was playing soccer and I really had no desire to get anywhere near the ball, so I was just dancing around and Patrick started laughing.” Thinking he was laughing at her selfdescribed horrible dancing skills, he told her “I just love to laugh and I am having the best morning because of you all.” “That morning I gained more than a friend — I gained a new role model on how to live life with a constant smile and kind heart,” said Otterbein. “I look forward to every time I see him at Unified events, Fall Fest or athlete practices because I know my day can only get better.”
More than 6,000 volunteers from the Villanova student body and the surrounding community are expected to participate in the event this year, serving in numerous capacities including as officials, athlete escorts, award presenters, and administrative support services. Volunteers from across the state are welcome and spectators are encouraged to visit any of the competition venues on or near campus to cheer on the athletes. For more information about volunteering, visit the official Villanova University Fall Festival Web site at specialolympics.villanova.edu
“I fell in love with Special Olympics last year after being a Pro-Volunteer referee for Volleyball Individual Skills,” said Matt Massina, Class of 2019. “Whether it was a reserved smile or a smile after pumping up the crowd, each one meant the world to me. These smiles are what motivate me each day to continue to strive for excellence. As a proud advocate for the movement of inclusion, I know that even on a stressful day, an interaction with an athlete brightens up my day entirely.”
Schedule of Events
Fall Festival weekend kick-offs with the Unified Fall Festival Torch Run, a 26 mile non-competitive run consisting of 18 segments from Citizens Bank Park to Villanova University on Nov. 10 beginning at 9:30 a.m. Hundreds of runners representing law enforcement officers, athletes, elected officials, schools and businesses will traverse through the city of Philadelphia into Bala Cynwyd and through the heart of the Main Line to Villanova for opening ceremonies. Ceremonies begin at 7:30 p.m. at Villanova Stadium and conclude with the lighting of the Olympic Torch to signify the official start of the games. The Olympic Torch will be carried by participants of the Unified Fall Festival Torch Run.
Athletes begin preliminary competitions on Nov. 10 in bocce, soccer, roller skating and volleyball. Powerlifting and long distance running competitions begin on Nov. 11. Roller skating competitions will take place at the Marple Sports Arena, 611 S. Park Way, Broomall. Soccer 5v5 and bocce are held at The Shipley School, 814 Yarrow St., Bryn Mawr, and volleyball competitions will be held at Agnes Irwin, 275 S. Ithan Ave., Bryn Mawr. Soccer 11-v-11 competitions will take place at Agnes Irwin on Friday and at the Villanova Stadium on Saturday. All other activities will take place at Villanova University.
Closing ceremonies are held in the Jake Nevin Field House on Nov. 12 at 1 p.m. This year’s closing ceremonies feature appearances by Special Olympics CEO Mary Davis, Villanova Coach Jay Wright, “Spread the Word to End the Word” co-founder Soeren Palumbo, and drawings for the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games and 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games.