#ImAGameChanger - The Coca-Cola Company

December 6, 2017 Rachel McQuiston

BY: USA GAMES CORRESPONDENT, MIKE GASTINEAU

The Coca-Cola Company has been with Special Olympics from the very beginning.

In 1968, the leaders of Coca-Cola had the vision and foresight to become a founding partner of Special Olympics when the movement was in its infancy. Now, nearly 50 years later, The Coca-Cola Company remains committed to helping advance a mission of acceptance and inclusion that began with the shining idea of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, who founded Special Olympics in 1968.

During their nearly 50-year relationship with Special Olympics, The Coca-Cola Company has maintained a deep commitment to the organization and has provided more than $190 million in support of its programs through product, equipment, donations, and marketing support.

Law Enforcement Torch Run “Final Leg” Team Announced for 2018 Special Olympics USA Games

December 5, 2017 Rachel McQuiston

47 Law Enforcement Officers and 6 Special Olympics Athletes to Carry Special Olympics Flame of Hope Throughout Washington State in Support of USA Games in Seattle

SEATTLE – December 5, 2017 – Before competition begins next July at the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games in Seattle, an elite group of law enforcement officers and Special Olympics athletes will escort the Special Olympics Flame of Hope on a journey across Washington state. From June 27 through July 1, 47 law enforcement officers representing 47 states, along with six Special Olympics athletes, will make up the prestigious “Final Leg” team for the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games Law Enforcement Torch Run® (LETR).

Since the first Special Olympics USA Games in 2006, law enforcement members and Special Olympics athletes from across the United States have carried the Flame of Hope in the LETR Final Leg to usher the start of the national competition.

Seattle Seawolves Partner with the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games

November 30, 2017 Rachel McQuiston

SEATTLE – November 30, 2017 – The Seattle Seawolves are proud to announce a new partnership with the 2018 Special Olympics USA Games. The 2018 Special Olympics USA Games will be held in Seattle, WA from July 1-6, 2018.

As a partner of the 2018 USA Games, the Seawolves have committed their support, engagement and influence in the community, to raise awareness about the USA Games and the abilities of the athletes from across the country who will compete.

In addition, Seawolves Fly-Half Shalom Suniula will serve as a 2018 USA Games Ambassador and help amplify the Special Olympics message of diversity, unity and inclusion.

#ImAGameChanger - Tim Hughes

November 29, 2017 Rachel McQuiston

BY: USA GAMES CORRESPONDENT, MIKE GASTINEAU

For Idaho native Tim Hughes, it all started with one girl named Olivia Cline.

“I was teaching a Sunday school class and I happened to have a student with a disability,” he said. “We began looking for something fun we could do together as a class and we decided that the next step we should take is to get her to participate in Special Olympics.”

Cline has cerebral palsy and while she was able to play sports as a young kid, by the time she was in junior high school she found it tough to keep up. With encouragement from Hughes and some of the other students in the class, she agreed to try Special Olympics as a floor hockey player. According to Hughes, it didn’t go well.

“Olivia decided it wasn’t a good fit and she didn’t want to participate. She didn’t feel comfortable and didn’t feel it was the right fit for her. I told her I thought we should give it a few more weeks and see what happened.”