Special Olympics New York and St. Bonaventure University Host Annual Unified Basketball Event

Trooper Ross M. Riley Memorial Law Enforcement Torch Run

(Article submitted for our Community Day newspaper)

Special Olympics New York, in collaboration with St. Bonaventure University and local school districts, successfully hosted the annual Unified Basketball event on Wednesday, April 24. The event took place at the Reilly and Richter Centers on the St. Bonaventure campus with additional support from United Way of Cattaraugus & Allegany Counties.

Unified Sports, an initiative of Special Olympics, brings together individuals with and without intellectual disabilities to train and compete on the same team. This program fosters friendships and mutual understanding, replacing misconceptions with an inclusive environment that values all participants.

The event saw participation from more than 100 students representing the Allegany-Limestone, Franklinville, Olean, and Salamanca school districts. Students from St. Bonaventure University played a crucial role, planning the event during their spring semester and volunteering on the day of the competition.

In conjunction with the event, Special Olympics New York organized the Trooper Ross M. Riley Memorial Law Enforcement Torch Run. 

This run featured the Special Olympics Flame of Hope being carried through Olean to the St. Bonaventure campus. 

Participants included officers from the Olean Police Department, New York State Police, New York State Park Police, Cattaraugus County Sheriffs, Allegany Police Department, and Chautauqua County Sheriffs, as well as St. Bonaventure ROTC, Public Safety, and students from the participating schools.

Special Olympics New York is one of the largest state chapters in the United States, serving more than 45,000 athletes with year-round sports training, athletic competition, and health screenings.

For more information about Special Olympics New York and upcoming events, visit www.specialolympicsny.org.