Elon plans for Special Olympics

Event hosted at Rhodes Stadium, still in need of volunteers

Rachel Abbott / Reporter

Elon University and the Burlington area will host the Special Olympics April 1 at Rhodes Stadium. The success of the program will rely on the help of about 100 volunteers, according to program coordinators.

“Our most important goal is to be successful, so we don’t want the athletes to be alone” said student co-coordinator Laura Somerville.

The Special Olympics “provides year-round sports training and athletic competition to more than 1 million people with intellectual disabilities in more than 150 countries” according to event officials.

Elon, in conjunction with the Burlington Recreation Center, will host a variety of sporting events for the athletes.

The day’s events will include many events adapted to the athletes’ abilities. If there is a rain delay, the day’s events will be rescheduled for April 2.

Volunteers can work shifts throughout the day, and can work one-on-one with the athletes, help prepare food, greet the athletes and their families or help at the information tables.

Somerville welcomes all students to “come down and cheer the athletes on.”

To start the Olympics, an athlete will perform the lighting of the torch at 8:15 a.m. during the opening ceremonies. Somerville said she hopes to have a guest speaker lined up for the event.

The day will end with closing ceremonies and award presentations for the athletes.

Burlington-area businesses will donate food and supplies for the Olympics. Somerville said the event has had great community involvement in past years.

If any Elon student wants to volunteer for the Special Olympics, he or she should contact Laura Somerville.

Somerville said the experience is one that won’t soon be forgotten. “It’s really rewarding,” she said.