District 54 to host Partners Club/Young Athletes Track Meet Friday, May 13

School District 54 Special Olympics is getting ready to host its single largest event of the year - the annual Club Unify/Young Athletes track meet.

The event will begin with opening ceremonies at 10 a.m. on the track behind Eisenhower Junior High School, 800 W. Hassell Road in Hoffman Estates.

Events will take place until noon followed by lunch for all athletes, their partners and volunteers. The meet will be cancelled in case of inclement weather.

"The Young Athletes portion of the meet is going to be exciting," said Lisa Liesz, Coordinator of Young Athletes for District 54 Special Olympics. "The athletes have been training all year. There will be more than 1,000 District 54 students, staff and volunteers participating in this day."

Club Unify is based at 11 District 54 schools and partners students with disabilities with their nondisabled peers. This program is part of Project UNIFY, a Special Olympics initiative that promotes respect through sports. Project UNIFY offers multiple ways to reach students of all ages to make them agents of change, fostering respect and acceptance for those with intellectual disabilities. The students participate in activities all year together, including this track meet each spring.

The Young Athletes program was created by Special Olympics for children ages 2-7 as a means of welcoming children into the world of Special Olympics. The Young Athletes program is an innovative sports play program for children with intellectual disabilities and their peers, designed to introduce them to the world of sports. The Young Athletes program is designed to address various specific levels of play, including physical activities focused on developing fundamental motor tracking and eye-hand coordination.

For more information on the District 54 Special Olympics, Club Unify and Young Athletes program, please call District 54 Special Olympics office at (847) 357-2107.