North America Softball Invitational—next weekend!
Thirty-two softball teams from across the United States and Canada will travel to the Roanoke area this August 19-21 Special Olympics North America Softball Invitational. An anticipated 450 athletes and 100 coaches will participate in this annual tournament.
Two local Special Olympics Unified teams will represent the Roanoke and New River Valleys! A third team from the Fredericksburg Area will complete the Virginia Delegation.
The event kicks off with an Opening Ceremony at 7:00 p.m. Friday, Aug. 19 at the Salem Civic Center. Preliminary competition begins Friday with the medal rounds concluding on Sunday. All competition, as well as medal ceremonies, will take place at the Moyer Sports Complex (1000 Union Street, Salem) and the Botetourt Sports Complex (160 Preston Parkway, Troutville).
All competitions and the opening ceremony are free and open to the public and Special Olympics invites everyone to come witness great softball and cheer on the teams.
Both traditional Special Olympics teams and Special Olympics Unified Sports teams (people with and without intellectual disabilities playing on the same team) will be represented throughout the weekend with medals awarded for each division.
“Softball emphasizes team work, physical fitness and strategic thinking – benefits and skills found on the playing field that our athletes use as part of being active, contributing members of their communities,” said Craig Pippert, Sports Director for Special Olympics North America, “We see continued growth in softball, with more than 65,000 Special Olympics athletes participating in the sport in North America alone.”
“Special Olympics is a global movement with more than 4.5 million athletes globally, and more than 21,000 of them are right here in Virginia states Special Olympics Virginia President and CEO Rick Jeffrey. This is an extremely rare opportunity for Virginians to see Special Olympics athletes from an array of states and nations compete at the highest levels. I sincerely hope everyone will mark their calendars now to come out and be “fans in the stands” – you’ll see some great softball and be inspired by the power and pure joy of sport.”
The 2016 Championship is made possible by presenting sponsor Moose International, as well as ASA/USA Softball, Coca-Cola, Special Olympics Virginia and local supporters, Roanoke Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau, the City of Salem, the City of Roanoke, and Botetourt County.
