FOX 29 News Philadelphia | WTXF-TV
On Friday, May 29, 2015, Special Olympics Pennsylvania’s Philadelphia program partnered with the School District of Philadelphia for the 3rd Annual Unified Soccer Championship held at Northeast High School, located at 1601 Cottman Avenue, Philadelphia. Opening Ceremonies began at 9:30am followed by preliminary competition until about noon. After teams participated in preliminary competition, they then went head to head for the medal rounds including the Championship game! Special guest, Matt Cord, from WMMR helped start the day with an energetic, exciting Opening Ceremony.
The Championship featured teams from 11 Philadelphia high schools and Chester High School. Schools in attendance were: Abraham Lincoln, Audenried High School, Chester High School, Furness High School, George Washington High School, High School of the Future, Martin Luther King High School, Northeast High School, Sayre High School, South Philadelphia High School, and Thomas Edison High School. In addition to the soccer tournament, Creative and Performing Arts High School and Samuel Fels High School will showed their skills at bocce in some friendly competition.
Special Olympics Unified Sports® is an inclusive sports program that puts athletes with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team. This Unified Soccer elective course, developed in partnership between the School District of Philadelphia and Special Olympics Pennsylvania, includes curriculum with youth leadership components, anti-bullying elements and soccer training and competition. The course provides greater access to sports for all students, with and without disabilities.