LORAIN, Ohio — Lorain High School and Amherst Steele High School brought students together Friday to foster new friendships and celebrate social inclusion at the inaugural Unified Special Olympics bowling match.
More than 40 students participated in the event, which took place at Rebman Recreation in Lorain. Unified Sports, a Special Olympics program, pairs athletes with and without intellectual disabilities on the same teams for training and competition. More than 1 million people worldwide participate in Unified Sports programs.
“The bowling event was filled with teamwork and encouragement, as students supported their peers and cheered each other on,” Lorain City Schools said in the news release. “The atmosphere was one of camaraderie and inclusion, with participants coming together to celebrate each other’s efforts and simply enjoy the spirit of friendly competition.”
The event featured eight-pin no tap bowling, a variation of the sport in which knocking down at least eight pins on the first ball is counted as a strike, Tom DeSalvo, Special Olympics coordinator for Lorain City Schools, said in an email.
Lorain High School has participated in Unified Sports for more than 5 years. Organizers created the bowling event to offer a competitive opportunity between the Unified Flag Football and Unified Basketball seasons.