Special Olympics Delaware Fall Sports Festival set Nov. 10

More than 450 Special Olympics athletes and Unified partners (peers without a disability) are set to compete at the annual Special Olympics Delaware Fall Sports Festival on Saturday, Nov. 10, at St. Andrew’s School in Middletown. The Opening Ceremony will be at 11 a.m. inside Sipprelle Field House. Admission to the ceremony and all sports events is free and open to the public.

Competition begins early Saturday morning with round-robin tournaments in bocce, flag football, soccer and volleyball that will continue throughout the day. A 5K and 1-mile run takes place on the cross country path through the woods beginning at 8:30 a.m. More than 100 coaches have volunteered to train the athletes during the past two months.

For the 21st consecutive year, Chase is the presenting sponsor. The company provides financial resources for the event, and puts together an organizing committee made up of its employees. More than 300 Chase employees, along with their families and friends, fill various volunteer roles.

“Chase employees look forward every year to helping our local community, and our involvement in the Special Olympics Delaware Fall Sports Festival is one of the highlights of our year,” said event Co-chair Scott Lammers, Chase vice president and operations leader. “The athletes inspire us, and each and every one of us walks away knowing that we received far more out of being part of the event than we could ever give.”

This year’s event marks the fourth consecutive year St. Andrew’s has hosted the festival, with many students, faculty and staff volunteering at the event.

“St. Andrew’s School is honored to partner with Special Olympics Delaware for its fall festival," said St. Andrew's Head of School Tad Roach. "The athletes are the true heroes, and it has been a privilege for our students and school to be able to support this amazing organization."

“We are so fortunate to have Chase and St. Andrew’s involved,” said Gary Cimagalia, SODE senior director of sports. “The resources they provide are invaluable in allowing our athletes, coaches and families to experience a first-class event.”

 For more information, including individual sports schedules, go to www.sode.org.