Elgin lands Special Olympics tourney, loses another

Chicago failed to land the 2016 Olympics, but Elgin apparently didn't get the message.

The city will host a large softball tournament of more than 20 teams for the U.S. Special Olympics in August 2011.

"This is a good place to come for a national event," said Chris Ecker, assistant director of membership with Moose International, which worked with the Special Olympics to bring the tournament to the suburbs.

The Special Olympics hosts a national games every four years, just like the Summer and Winter Olympics.

During "off years" games are still held and participants still win medals. The 2011 tournament in Elgin will be an off-year event.

Ecker said the tournament will draw at least 20 coed teams comprised of teens and young adults.

"We will have teams from all over the country in 2011 coming to participate," Ecker said.

"The camaraderie, the interaction and kids being kids. ... It doesn't matter that they might be challenged in some, way shape or form," Ecker said, referring to the spirit of the competition.

Moose officials and Special Olympics representatives will reveal more details about the tournament after the 7th annual "Bike Blessing and Run for Mooseheart and Special Olympics" on Saturday. The event draws riders from across the country and had a record 401 riders in 2009.

Registration begins at 8 a.m. near the football stadium at the Mooseheart campus near Batavia. The bike blessing is at 11 a.m. For more information, call (630) 966-2216 or visit mooseheart.org.

While the influx of teams, coaches and family members are expected to be a boost to the economy, the city recently suffered a setback on a different athletic front.

Last spring, officials at the city, along with the Fox Valley Visitors and Convention Bureau were beaming with pride that Elgin had been selected to host the USA Team Handball national club championships.

Organizers predicated the tournament would bring some 540 athletes, their families, and $300,000 for hotel rooms, transportation and meals.

Matches were held at the Centre, Elgin Community College and Judson University.

At the time, officials from the Utah-based USA Team Handball said they would strongly consider moving their national tournament to Elgin for good.

But the group is hosting its championship this year in Las Vegas.

Pete Garlock, sales director at the visitors bureau, said Team Handball wanted a larger venue such as the Sears Centre or United Center and deferred comments to Steve Pastorino, USA Team Handball general manager.

Pastorino, one of several USA Team Handball officials who made the trip to Elgin, could not be reached for comment.