DPU hosting special athletes

Saturday, March 10, 2007

Approximately 320 Special Olympics athletes will gather at DePauw University this weekend to compete in the 2007 Special Olympics Indiana Women's State Basketball Tournament. 

Thirty-two teams from across the state will take part in championship play at the university's Indoor Tennis and Track Center from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, and 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday.

Approximately 500 volunteers will assist throughout the weekend, including many DePauw students. 

 Special Olympics athletes competing this weekend will play in tournament rounds organized into 10 divisions based upon team ability level. 

Prior to competing in the state tournament, all teams completed at least eight weeks of training and played at least two games within the Special Olympics Indiana state basketball program. 

"Special Olympics Indiana is proud to provide the world's only stand-alone women's state basketball tournament for Special Olympics athletes," said Dave Breen, Director of Sports Management for Special Olympics Indiana. "We appreciate DePauw University's consistent support as host of the event and look forward to a competitive and inspiring championship tournament."

 Special Olympics Indiana is a not-for-profit organization that provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in over 21 Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, reaching more than 12,000 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 www.soindiana.org.

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