Special Olympics New York announces "Sports Season at Home"

Special Olympics New York announces "Sports Season at Home"

FROM LITTLE LEAGUETO THE PROS --ATHLETES HAVE BEENFORCED TO SIT ONTHE SIDELINES FOR AWHILE.BUT THERE ARE STILLWAYS FOR THEM TOPLAY.JENNA CALLARISHOWS US HOWSPECIAL OLYMPICS ISPROVIDING NEWOPPORTUNITIES FORATHLETES TO PLAY ATHOME.JUSTIN STEVENSON OFYOUNGSTOWN WASLOOKING FORWARD TOTHE SPRING SPORTSSEASON AT LEW-PORTHIGH SCHOOL.JUSTIN & CHRISTINE /SO ATHLETE ANDCOACH: "WE WERESUPPOSED TO HAVEUNIFIED BASKETBALLFOR THE FIRST TIME."THE SEASON WASUNFORTUNATELYCANCELED... BUTTHANKS TO SPECIALOLYMPICS NEW YORK,JUSTIN - ALONG WITHMANY OTHERS - WILLSTILL HAVE THECHANCE TO SHOWTHEIR ABILITIES.STACEY/ CEO OFSPECIAL OLYMPICS NY:"THEY NEEDCOMPETITION.

THEY'REATHLETES SO THEYWANT TO COMPETE."WHICH IS WHY THEORGANIZATIONLAUNCHED ITS FIRSTEVER SPORTS SEASONAT HOME... GIVINGATHLETES A CHANCETO GO UP AGAINSTOTHERS AND HAVE FUNDOING IT.STACEY: "THEY'VE GOTTHEIR COMPETITIVEJUICES FLOWING,THEY'RE ALREADYWORKING ON WHATTHEY WANNA COMPETEIN, WORKING ONGETTING BETTER, SOIT'S JUST A BIG BOOSTFOR THE WHOLESPECIAL OLYMPICSCOMMUNITY." HERE'SHOW IT WORKS..

ANATHLETE WILL PICKFOUR OF A POSSIBLE 12EVENTS.

JUSTIN'SCOMPETING IN THEBROAD JUMP, SIT-UPS,PUSH-UPS AND...CHRISTINE/JUSTIN:"WHAT DO YOU THINKYOU'RE BEST AT?PLANK.

HE'S GOOD AT APLANK." THE ATHLETES,IN FRONT OF THEIRCOACH VIRTUALLY,WILL PERFORM THEIRSKILLS AND SUBMITTHEIR TOP SCORES.

INMID-JUNE THEY'LL BEPOOLED, AND A WEEKLATER WILL SUBMITSCORES FOR THEFINAL TIME.

AT THE ENDOF THE MONTH,ATHLETES WILL BERECOGNIZED.STACEY: I JUST LOVEIT.

I LOVE THECELEBRATION PART.

ILEARN FROM THEMEVERYDAY.

I'MINSPIRED BY THEIRDEDICATION..

I DON'TKNOW IF IT'S BETTERFOR THEM OR FOR ME."AND THIS COULDN'TCOME AT A BETTERTIME.

MANY ATHLETESARE FEELING ISOLATEDSO THIS EVENT GIVESTHEM THE CHANCE TOGET OUT, BE ACTIVE,AND HAVE SOMETHINGTO BE EXCITED ABOUT.CHRISTINE: "I WOULDRECEIVE MESSAGES,WHEN ARE WESTARTING, WHEN AREWE GETTINGTOGETHER.

NOW THATTHEY CAN DO THISEVERY TUESDAY, ITGIVES THEMSOMETHING TO LOOKFORWARD TO."ATHLETES HAVE UNTILMID-JUNE TO SIGN UPAND COMPETE..

YOUCAN FIND A LINK ALONGWITH THIS STORY ONWKBW DOT COM.

INBUFFALO,