The Coca-Cola Sun Games benefiting Special Olympics Arizona (SOAZ) is a fun Unified sports competition that will pair individuals with and without intellectual disabilities in a series of friendly football competitions. Teams of four (28 total) will be competing together in seven different football-themed stations. Teams will consist of one SOAZ athlete, one special guest/community member and two participants from sponsor organizations.
Competitions will include QB toss, football kick, corn hole, catch and run, running back relay, scrimmage touchdown dance and photo booth from 8:30 a.m. to noon on Monday, Feb. 6 at Arizona State University Polytechnic Campus, located at 7001 E. Williams Field Road in Mesa, near Queen Creek.
The event provides individuals the opportunity to have an interactive experience with SOAZ athletes in a fun, safe and competitive environment. It allows SOAZ athletes to gain higher-level sports skills while experiencing meaningful inclusion by playing a valued role on a team, with the goal of changing people’s attitudes about people with disabilities while fostering lasting friendships.
SOAZ participants are athletes from Westwood, Poston Butte, Perry and Mesa high schools. Community partner participants come from the Pat Tillman Veterans Center and Veterans Upward Bound.
Also participating is special guest Anthony Robles, a former ASU wrestler who won the 2010-11 NCAA individual wrestling championship despite being born with one leg. This leader and inspirational speaker is the author of the book “Unstoppable: From Underdog to Undefeated, How I Became a Champion.”
This event is free and spectators are encouraged to come out and cheer on and support these great athletes.
The purpose of Special Olympics Arizona is to empower children and adults with intellectual disabilities to live healthy, fulfilling and meaningful lives. This vision of acceptance and inclusion is realized through health, leadership and advocacy programs, as well as providing year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-style sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving more opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community. For more information, visit specialolympicsarizona.org
