UIndy to host Special Olympics State Basketball Tournament

WHO / WHAT:Special Olympics Indiana Youth State Basketball Tournament Featuring Pacers Clinic and Respect RallyThe University of Indianapolis will host the third annual Special Olympics Indiana Youth Basketball tournament on Saturday, March 24, beginning at 9 a.m. at Nicoson Hall. Approximately 300 youth (ages 8-21) will participate in 5-on-5 and 3-on-3 competition.

As part of the day’s events, the Indiana Pacers will host a clinic for Special Olympics athletes on Saturday, beginning at 1 p.m. Darnell Hillman, former NBA/ABA star and current Pacers staff member, will lead a group of 30 athletes through basketball skills.

In addition to the youth basketball tournament and Pacers involvement, the University of Indianapolis will host a “Respect Rally”, at 12 p.m. At the rally, people will be educated about Special Olympics Indiana programs, the abilities and gifts of persons with intellectual disabilities, and the hurtful and exclusionary effect of the casual use of demeaning language.

WHEN / WHERE:Saturday, March 24, University of Indianapolis 9 a.m.               Basketball competition starts12 p.m.             “Respect” rally1 p.m.               Pacers clinic begins, competition resumes7 p.m.               Competition concludes

DETAILS:Last weekend, nearly 2,000 athletes and Partners participated in one of seven sectional competitions to determine which teams advanced to State. Locations in Boonville, Indianapolis, Logansport, New Albany, Shelbyville, Upland and Valparaiso hosted sectionals. On March 10-11, DePauw University held the Special Olympics Indiana’s Women’s Tournament, the only Special Olympics women’s basketball tournament in the world. Overall, Indiana has more than 2,400 Special Olympics athletes participating in basketball, which is the third-most popular Special Olympics sport in the state.

ABOUT SPECIAL OLYMPICS INDIANASpecial Olympics Indiana is a not-for-profit organization that provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in more than 20 Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, reaching more than 11,000 athletes across Indiana. The organization receives no federal- or state-appropriated funds, is not a United Way agency and relies entirely on corporate, civic and individual donations. For more information about Special Olympics Indiana, call (317) 328-2000 or visit soindiana.org.