Annual tournament to launch in August 2016 and include 1,000 athletes
Marlborough, MASS. September 16, 2015 – Special Olympics Massachusetts (SOMA) has announced it will host a new annual sports tournament in the City of Marlborough and surrounding towns.
The inaugural two-day event will take place on August 27th and 28th, 2016 and will include approximately 1,000 Special Olympics athletes from around the Commonwealth participating in four sports: bocce, cycling, golf, and softball. The tournament will focus primarily on “Unified Sports,” a Special Olympics initiative where athletes with and without disabilities participate together as teammates.
During today’s official announcement at the Yawkey Sports Training Center in Marlborough—SOMA’s headquarters—President and CEO Marybeth McMahon said she anticipates adding more sports and growing the event in the coming years. “
We are thrilled to work with many Marlborough-area community partners to build a great event that promotes respect and inclusion for people with intellectual disabilities through the power of sports,” said McMahon. “We hope that this event will also serve as a spring-board for other year-round Special Olympics initiatives throughout the region.”
“This is an exciting day for Marlborough, Special Olympics Massachusetts, but most importantly, it is an exciting day for all the amazing Special Olympics athletes who will have another great opportunity to show off their athletic skills,” said Mayor Arthur Vigeant. “I cannot wait for next year’s tournament.”
ForeKicks in Marlborough and the New England Baseball Complex in Northborough are among the confirmed competition venues. Local youth and school groups, along with corporate partners, will run the tournament on a volunteer basis. Participants will lodge at hotels in Marlborough.
Based on the National Association of Sports Commissions (NASC) Economic Impact Calculator, the Marlborough Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) estimates that the tournament will have a regional economic impact of close to $250,000 and bring thousands of visitors to the region.
“We couldn’t be happier to welcome home Special Olympics Massachusetts,” said MEDC Executive Director Tim Cummings. “Their presence in the City of Marlborough has always been important and now their economic impact will be felt as well. We anticipate that all our hotels will be fully booked for the weekend of the games, and the local restaurants and retailers will definitely see an uptick in business too.”
SOMA welcomes the involvement of area families, service groups, businesses, and schools. For more information or to get involved, visit www.SpeciaOlympicsMa.org.
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About Special Olympics Massachusetts:
Special Olympics Massachusetts (SOMA) provides year-round sports training, athletic competition and other related programming for over 11,000 athletes with intellectual disabilities across the state in over 120 sporting competitions. Through the power of sport, the movement transforms the lives of people with intellectual disabilities, their peers, and communities at-large. For a complete overview of SOMA, visit www.specialolympicsma.org
About MEDC:
The Marlborough Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) is the state chartered economic development corporation for the City of Marlborough, MA and represents a public-private partnership for planning. MEDC works with municipal and private investors to foster economic development, job growth and community revitalization and development. For a complete overview of MEDC, visit www.MarlboroughEDC.com.
For press inquiries, contact:
Charles Hirsch
charles.hirsch@specialolympicsma.org
508-485-0986 Ext.223
Lora Markova
press@marlboroughedc.com
617-513-1324
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