UConn will host the third annual Husky Soccer Classic State Qualifier, a Special Olympics event, this Saturday at the George J. Sherman Family Sports Complex. The event is a round-robin style competition in which 26 teams from across the state will be assessed for placement in the June tournament, said USG Vice President and co-coordinator of the program, Robert Puff.
The opening ceremony will begin at 9:30 a.m. with a performance from a cappella group Extreme Measures and remarks from University President Michael J. Hogan. Kickoff for the first game is at 10 a.m. and the last game will start at 4:00 p.m., Puff said.
According to the Special Olympics mission statement, the goal is to provide "enjoyable, beneficial and challenging activities for athletes with intellectual disabilities." To do this, athletes of all ages are paired with UConn athletes and volunteers throughout the day, according to Katelyn Donovan, a 6th-semester psychology major and co-coordinator of the event.
In addition to playing soccer, the athletes will have a variety of activities available to them, including sand art and hackey sacks. The activities will be run by 175 student volunteers, who will also serve food, officiate games, escort teams and direct parking. Both men's and women's club teams will help with the program, and the men's varsity team will be out signing autographs, Puff said.
"We'd love to have people come and watch," said Donovan. She encourages anyone interested in participating in the program next year to come out and get involved this Saturday.
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